Category: Documents

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Lacson Files Estate Tax Amnesty Bill to Unlock Idle Assets, Boost Revenues

A bill filed by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson seeks to grant an amnesty on unpaid estate taxes covering the estates of individuals who died on or before Dec. 31, 2025, with outstanding or accrued tax liabilities as of that date.

Senate Bill 1889 aims to broaden the tax base and accelerate revenue collection, while minimizing prolonged litigation over tax liabilities. It also seeks to facilitate the reintegration of idle or previously immobilized assets to the formal economy.

“The proposed bill… seeks to enact a broader and more pragmatic Estate Tax Amnesty framework. It authorizes a one-time opportunity for estates of decedents who died on or before a specified date to settle outstanding estate tax liabilities at a uniform rate of six percent, subject to simplified documentary and procedural requirements,” he said in the proposed “Estate Tax Amnesty Act of 2026.”

In Filipino: Senate Bill ni Lacson, Hangad Ma-Unlock ang Idle Assets at Mapataas ang Kita ng Pamahalaan

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Lacson Bill Enhances Benefits, Working Conditions of Sanitation Inspectors

Sanitation inspectors – the unsung “foot soldiers” of the Department of Health who help safeguard public health at the community level – may soon get long-overdue improvements in benefits and working conditions under a bill filed by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson.

Lacson on Wednesday filed Senate Bill 1725, seeking to positively augment and improve the compensation of sanitation inspectors by modifying their salary grade schedule.

“This bill aims to professionalize the health and sanitary-related services rendered by sanitation inspectors by requiring the registration and accreditation of the sanitation inspectors to ensure the healthcare and welfare of the community,” he said in his bill titled “An Act Modifying the Salary Grade Schedule and Enhancing the Benefits of Sanitation Inspectors, Protecting their General Working Conditions, and Appropriating Funds Therefor.”

He added the bill “further intends to positively augment and improve the basic monetary compensation of sanitation inspectors by modifying the salary grade schedule for all registered sanitation inspectors nationwide and correlating the existing position titles of SIs to the next higher salary grade.”

In Filipino: Panukalang Batas ni Lacson, Pahuhusayin ang Benepisyo at Working Conditions ng mga Sanitation Inspector

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Lacson Bill Establishes Coffee Industry Development Program

Coffee is life for many Filipinos, but for our local growers, it’s a daily fight for survival against imports and limited support from the Philippine government.

In this light, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson filed Senate Bill 1556, establishing a Philippine national coffee industry development program.

Lacson’s bill also creates the Philippine Coffee Board and provides comprehensive support mechanisms for the coffee sector.

“This measure seeks to establish a national framework that will accelerate the development of the coffee industry, create a National Coffee Board, strengthen every link of the value chain, improve the country’s competitiveness, and reduce our heavy reliance on imported coffee,” Lacson said in his bill, titled the “Philippine National Coffee Industry Development Act of 2025.”

In Filipino: Panukalang Batas ni Lacson, Nagtatatag ng Programa para sa Pagpapaunlad ng Industriya ng Kape

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Lacson Bill Arms AMLC to Counter Evolving Corruption Schemes

The complex financial crimes exposed in the investigation into the corruption behind anomalous flood control projects have prompted Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson to file a bill further strengthening the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

Senate Bill 1557, which Lacson filed on Wednesday, gives the AMLC additional powers while widening the scope of covered persons and updating the list of predicate offenses to money laundering.

“Recent corruption issues have highlighted the complexities of financial crimes. Updating the AMLA to meet the requirements of the times would also prevent us from being placed in the FATF Greylist again,” Lacson said in his bill, noting that the Philippines will be subjected to the FATF’s fifth round of global mutual evaluations in 2027.

In Filipino: Panukalang Batas ni Lacson, Dadagdagan ang Ngipin ng AMLC vs Korapsyon

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Lacson: Senate, House Resolutions Opening the Budget Process to the Public a Big Step vs Corruption

The resolutions by the Senate and House of Representatives to open the budget process to the public may not be foolproof but they are still a major step against “pork” in the national budget, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson welcomed the House’s adoption of House Resolution 94, which seeks to institutionalize the participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) as non-voting observers in the budget deliberations of the House appropriations committee.

He added that with the signing by himself and fellow senators of a concurrent resolution to have a transparent budget process, it will be easier to identify the lawmakers who made insertions and realignments to the budget bill.

“What we signed yesterday is a concurrent resolution so both houses of Congress thankfully are united in making the budget process transparent all the way to the bicameral conference committee,” he said.

In Filipino: Lacson: Resolusyon ng Senado at Kamara na Nagbubukas ng Budget Process sa Publiko, Malaking Hakbang Laban sa Katiwalian sa Budget

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