MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED Some legislators are pleased that President Rodrigo Duterte

expressed his support for bills they had filed during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on
Monday, July 25.
I think the President is honest and trustworthy, no doubt about that. Kami naman, marami din
kaming wishl ist (We have a lot on our wish list). Im happy that the President is supporting
many of our ideas as well, like extending the validity of passports and licenses, tax reform. Ive
filed all of these, said new Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto after Dutertes speech. (FULL
TEXT: President Duterte's 1st State of the Nation Address)
The President said he wants Congress to amend Republic Act Number 8239 or the Philippine
Passport Act of 1996 to extend the validity of passports from 5 to 10 years.
Recto himself has filed a bill seeking to lengthen the Filipino passports validity for the same
number of years.
Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco is also happy that Duterte vowed to cut income and
corporate taxes because it matches his House Bill Number 411.
Tiangcos proposal aims to exempt those earning P30,000 and below from paying the income
tax. The rates for low-income and middle-income earners would also be adjusted.
So natutuwa ako na may suporta na kaagad 'yung bill na finile ko, said Tiangco. (So Im
happy that there is already support for the bill I filed.)
The same goes for Senator Sonny Angara, whose Senate Bill Number 129 would exempt
workers earning an annual taxable income of not over P70,000 from paying income tax.
I expect nothing less from the President. He has already put income tax reform among the top of
his 10-point socioeconomic agenda so Im sure hell prioritize tax cuts for our workers in his first
SONA. We are looking forward to hearing how he would specifically go about with overhauling
the tax system, said Angara.
Kabayan Representative Harry Roque is also thankful that two of the bills he filed are on the
legislative agenda of the President.
One of these is a measure seeking to provide universal health care, which Roque said would
guarantee that every Filipino would have access to medical treatment and financial assistance
that he or she deserves. (READ: SONA 2016: Duterte urges full implementation of RH law)
I am the author now of the whistle-blower bill, which Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago asked
me to file because she was the original author of the Senate, and this didnt see the light of day.
So two of my bills were mentioned as part of the administrations legislative agenda. And Im
happy, of course, could actually become law, said Roque.
In his SONA, Duterte appealed to legislators to finally pass the whistle-blower protection law
and to also strengthen the justice departments witness protection program.
Senator Win Gatchalian said he would support Duterte's appeal for Congress to grant him
emergency powers to address the urban traffic problem.
"Being a former congressman here in Metro Manila, this is very close to our heart, the traffic
situation here. And I think what the DOTC (Department of Transportation) people should do is to

submit to Senate and Congress their plans. The emergency powers is important...and I think its
about time now to get together and discuss the long-term strategy," said Gatchalian.
Duterte spoke for one hour and 40 minutes, making major policy pronouncements on the peace
negotiations, the anti-drug war, income tax reform, and transportation, among others.