Sin tax bicam to focus on ‘non-contentious’ issues first

MANILA, Philippines – Discussions on the contentious provisions of the sin tax bill, such as pricing, tiers, rates and indexation, will be reserved for the second day of the bicameral committee conference, said House contingent head Rep Isidro Ungab.

Ungab, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, said he and Senate contingent head Sen Franklin Drilon have agreed to first tackle the general provisions of House Bill 5727 and Senate Bill 3299 when the bicam meets at Shangri-la EDSA Wednesday, December 4. 

“The general principle is to first take up the non-contentious matters so on the first day, we can breeze through the things we can agree,” Ungab said.

One of the most contentious provisions of the bill is the amount of revenue to be generated from both versions. The Senate version projects to generate revenues of P45 billion while the House version aims to raise revenues of P31 billion. 

The House panel had a meeting Tuesday morning, December 4, with Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares and Department of Finance officials.

Ungab said the House members will defend the chamber’s version but they are confident that both will agree on a unified sin tax measure before the end of the year. 

The members of the House committee on the sin tax bill are: 

Davao City Rep Isidro Ungab

Camarines Sur Rep. Arnulfo Fuentebella

Camarines Sur Rep Luis Villafuerte

Mandaluyong City Rep Neptali Gonzales II

Iloilo Rep Janette Garin

Negros Oriental Rep Jocelyn Limkaichong

Batanes Rep Henedina Abad 

Ilocos Sur Rep Eric Singson, Jr.

Quezon Rep Danilo Suarez 

Meanwhile, their Senate counterparts, aside from Drilon, are Senators Ralph Recto, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Panfilo Lacson, Sergio Osmeña III, Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano. – Rappler.com