黑料社

MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Lawmakers on Wednesday began discussions on the proposed excise tax hike on alcohol, heated tobacco, and vapor products, expressing optimism that the bicameral conference (bicam) committee report on the measure will be ratified today.

Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives convened in a bicam to reconcile the House and Senate version of a measure that would increase the excise tax hike on alcohol, heated tobacco, and vapor products.

The excise tax rates in the Senate鈥檚 version is higher than that of the House鈥檚 proposal.

Senator Pia Cayetano, chair of the Senate contingent to the bicam and the Senate ways and means committee, said 鈥渙nly a few issues鈥� will have to be discussed.

鈥淲e鈥檝e had a number of discussions with the honorable chair of the House panel and we鈥檝e identified fairly only a few issues I think not even enough to count with my hand,鈥� she said in her opening statement.

鈥淪o we鈥檙e hoping that we can celebrate more than we have these discussions,鈥� she added.

Meanwhile, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda expressed hope that the meeting will produce a 鈥渞obust output.鈥�

鈥淭he House panel is very optimistic that we will have a robust output in this meeting and hope that we can ratify whatever product we have today,鈥� Salceda, Cayetano鈥檚 counterpart, said.

The lower chamber passed House Bill No. 1026 last August while the Senate passed its version on Monday.

Following the Senate鈥檚 approval of the bill, it will be elevated to the bicameral conference committee for further deliberations and returned to the lower and upper chamber for ratification of the final version.

Once ratified, the final version of the proposal will be sent to the President for signature.

Edited by MUF