ROXAS LAUDS HOUSE ACTION ON INCOME TAX BREAK BILL
EXEMPTION FOR MINIMUM WAGERS TO BE FAST-TRACKED

Senator Mar Roxas commended the House of Representatives for rectifying its quorum woes in order to pass a bill giving tax relief to low-wage earners, and said he would push for this to be taken up by the Senate at the soonest possible time.

"We welcome the approval of the House version. I am confident that we will be able to reconcile our versions of the measure. Both the Senate and the House have the same thing in mind--to provide immediate relief for our workers," he said.

"Kahit hindi ito nakaabot sa Labor Day, nananatili itong prayoridad para bigyang ginhawa ang ating mga manggagawa, sa panahong napakataas ang presyo ng mga bilihin," he stressed.

Roxas filed Senate Bill No. 103 in June last year to exempt minimum wage earners from income taxes. Policymakers agreed to prioritize such measure in the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) last April 22, and was targeted to be passed by May 1, Labor Day. He noted that the Constitution requires that all tax measures must emanate from the House.

"This measure has been promised to workers in the past Labor Day celebrations. Now that this tax relief is forthcoming, our workers can now focus on the work of the regional wage boards and the grant of non-wage benefits," he added.

The Liberal Party President noted that while both bills sought to increase take-home pay for low wage earners, the House had adopted a different methodology by increasing personal exemptions for employees in the private sector, while Roxas' bill removes the income tax altogether for minimum wagers.