August 1st, 2022
Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Sarte Salceda, expected to retain his post as chair of the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means, praised President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s State of the Nation Address as a speech “cementing his role as technocrat-in-chief,” and that he was “very honored and elated” to see his bills mentioned as priority measures in President Marcos’s first State of the Nation Address today.
“I am beyond thankful for the recognition of my work of several congresses. The measures PBBM mentioned, particularly on the fiscal side, are measures I have principally authored and sponsored congress after congress,” Salceda said.
President Marcos also called on Congress to pass measures such as the Center for Disease Control and the Virology Institute charter, which Salceda “personally authored.”
“The mention and the opportunity to champion this bills will be a capping achievement in my third term as Congressman for the 2nd district of Albay.”
Salceda is principal author of at least 13 of the 19 measures mentioned by Marcos as priority measures.
Fiscal reform to move quickly
Salceda, incoming chair of the House tax panel, says that he commits to “begin taking up all the tax-related bills mentioned by PBBM as soon as we are constituted as a committee. We will be on our feet on day one.”
Fiscal management measures mentioned by President Marcos include the National Government Rightsizing Program, the Budget Modernization Bill, Package 3 of the tax reform on real property valuation and assessment, and Package 4 of tax reform on passive income and financial intermediaries.
At the beginning of his speech, Marcos also mentioned tax administration reforms such as the Digital Economy VAT Law, the Ease of Paying Taxes Act, and reforms against possible undervaluation and misdeclaration of imported goods.
“These are very clear directions from the President, who is head of the governing coalition that the House majority belongs to.”
“So, as soon as we are reconstituted, and as soon as I am nominated Chairman of the tax committee again, in the coming days, we will already move.”
“I will also be filing the Joint Resolution on the Medium Term Fiscal Program, as promised, and I believe I will probably be asked to sponsor the provisions of the resolution, as is typically my assignment in the House,” Salceda adds.
Salceda also says that the Medium-Term Fiscal Program will likely be the basis for the general principles of the budget, which Salceda has traditionally been assigned to defend during several-hour plenary sessions.
“We’re ready to get to work on day one,” Salceda added.
Salceda thankful for commitment to completing Duterte-era projects
Salceda also thanked President Marcos for his commitment to complete all rail projects already ongoing from the time of President Duterte.
“Although it was not mentioned perhaps due to the fact that we are negotiating the terms of the financing, the Bicol Railway is already in the advanced stage of pre-project work, and is an ongoing Build, Build, Build priority. So, I’m thankful for his commitment to finish what PRRD started.”
“The Bicol Railway will change the game for our industries in the Pacific Seaboard. It will also be the closest thing to connecting the Speaker’s home region to Luzon via rail.”
“I clarified with ES Rodriqguez whether Bicol Railway is still a priority for PBBM, and he says that yes, it is covered by his commitment to all ongoing railway projects.”