THE Duterte administration will submit to Congress several amendments to anti-terrorism bills and impose taxes on fuel and sugary products, Malacanang said Wednesday.
Those in the immediate shopping list of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, which were presented by Presidential Legislative Liason Secretary Adelino Sitoy includes the Amendments to the Human Security Act of 2007 (RA 9372), Terrorism Financing Prevention and Supression Act of 2012 (RA 10168) and Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (RA 10175) with the Department of Justice as the lead agency to review the Palace-backed drafts.
The Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of National Defense, Department of Information and Communications Technology, and Department of Finance will also help in drafting the Palace proposal before the 17th Congress.
Aside from amending anti-terror laws, the Duterte administration will also back the proposal of the Finance Department for a P5-a-kilo excise tax on sugary products, including domestic raw sugar, refined sugar as well as imported sugar and sugar substitutes, which will result in fresh revenues worth P18.1 billion.
The so-called “sin” tax on tobacco and alcohol products, packaged as a health measure when passed during the Aquino administration, will also be revisited, alongside a scheduled review this year of its implementation since 2013.