Alyansa to push bank secrecy waiver, 14th month pay for all if elected

Countdown to May 12 elections. —RICHARD A. REYES

LAOAG, Ilocos Norte — A bank secrecy law waiver for all government officials along with 14th month pay for all employees will be some of the bills that will be filed by senatorial candidates from the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, should they win the 2025 midterm elections.

During the press briefing on Tuesday, the eight Alyansa bets present were asked what the first bill that they would file should they win the elections would be.  In response, former senator Panfilo Lacson said he has always submitted proposed exemptions of government officials from Republic Act No. 1405 or the Bank Secrecy Act.

“Ang una kong panukalang batas — at ito ay lagi kong fina-file sa bawat Kongreso — ‘yong waiver ng rights do’n sa Bank Secrecy Act, ng lahat ng government officials, from the lowest clerk or janitor all the way up to the president,” Lacson said.

(My first bill — and I always file this for every Congress — is the waiver of rights for the Bank Secrecy Act, covering all government officials, from the lowest clerk or janitor up to the president.)

READ: Lacson bill exempts public servants from Bank Secrecy Law 

Lacson’s running mate in the 2022 presidential race, former Senate President Vicente Sotto III, meanwhile said that he will propose bills that would restrict ‘fake news’ and institutionalize a 14th month pay for all employees.

“Uunahin ko ‘yong anti-fake news, at saka anti-fake content, and then kombinasyon ng rightsizing the government at magbigay ng 14th month pay sa lahat ng empleyado,” Sotto added, drawing cheers from the crowd.

(I will prioritize bills against fake news, and anti-fake content, and then it will be a combination of rightsizing the government and providing 14th month pay for all employees.)

Makati Mayor Abby Binay, meanwhile said that she will push for tax exemption for the 13th month — and if Sotto’s bill would be approved — for 14th month incentives.

“Dalawa pong panukala ang gusto po nating i-file, una ‘yong tax exemption sa 13th month and overtime pay.  ‘Pag napasa po ni Tito Sen (Sotto) ‘yong 14th month, sasama na natin sa tax exemption ‘yon.  Pangalawa pong napaka-importante ay makapagbigay po tayo ng libreng gamot para sa ating mga senior citizens na kinakailangan po ang maintenance medicine,” Binay said.

(I have two bills, first is the tax exemption for the 13th month and overtime pay.  If Tito Sen’s bill on the 14th month is passed, we will include that in the proposed tax exemption.  Second is the provision for free medicines for our senior citizens who need maintenance medicine.)

Former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief Benhur Abalos, meanwhile said that he will suggest amendments to the Local Government Code of 1991, as there are some local government units (LGUs) who cannot afford to build schools or hospitals without support from the national government.

“Marami tayong mga polisyang magaganda pero kung minsan ang implementasyon pagdating sa lokal na pamahalaan ay nagkakagulo.  For example, ang pagpapagawa ng mga eskwelahan, nakalagay sa Local Government Code dapat ang lokal na pamahalaan, hindi kakayanin po ito. Dapat national po dito,” Abalos said.

(We have many good policies but the issue surfaces during the implementation in the local government.  For example, building schools, as stated in the Local Government Code, should be done by the local government, but they cannot accommodate that.  It should be the national government.)

“Pagpapagawa ng kalye ng barangay, dapat ang barangay. Sa aking eksperyensya bilang mayor at bilang DILG, walang barangay may kaya nito.  Kung meron lang wala pang 1 percent ito.  At of course ang tertiary hospital. Ang mga probinsya raw, ang provincial hospital ang kailangan magpagawa nito.  Kawawa ang mamamayan na hindi kaya ng probinsya nila na magpagawa ito, dapat national,” he added.

(Construction of barangay roads should be done by the barangay.  But in my experience as mayor and DILG head, no barangay can do this.  If there are barangays who can, it’s only one percent.  And of course building tertiary hospitals, it is the burden of the provincial government.  But the people will suffer if their provinces cannot construct it, it has to be the national government.)

Senator Francis Tolentino meanwhile said he will refile a bill that pushes for the removal of value added tax (VAT) on electricity and internet services.  Former senator Manny Pacquiao — another presidential candidate in the 2022 polls — meanwhile said that he will file bills that prioritize the welfare of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“‘Pag naalis po ‘yong (VAT) sa kuryente, ang laking tulong sa ating mga kababayan lalong lalo na sa basic necessities at ma-kontrol din ‘yong inflation,” Tolentino said.

(If we remove VAT on electricity, this would be a big help to Filipinos, especially for them to buy basic necessities and to also control inflation.)

“Alam naman natin na dito sa bansa natin, 99 percent ay micro, small, and medium enterprises, at para tayo’y maka-recover talaga economically, palakasin natin ‘yong [MSMEs] para makapagbigay ng trabaho at hanapbuhay sa lahat ng Pilipino, ‘yan ang pinaka-solusyon d’yan,” Pacquiao added.

(We know that in our country, 99 percent are micro, small, and medium enterprises, and for us to recover economically, we need to strengthen [MSMEs] so that they can provide jobs to Filipinos, I think that’s the solution.)

ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo also said that their goal is to pass laws that would make the economy more vibrant, by helping MSMEs.  Deputy Speaker Camille Villar meanwhile said that her priority would be the bills that would help businesses in industries with high employment rates, like construction and tourism.

Only four Alyansa bets failed to show up at the press conference to mark start of the campaign season — Senator Imee Marcos, Senator Pia Cayetano, Senator Lito Lapid, Senator Bong Revilla.

Campaign manager and Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco said that the four candidates would be present at the proclamation rally that would be held at the Centennial Arena located here in Laoag.

There is a huge chance that majority of the Alyansa bets would make it to the Senate, based on recent surveys.  Reports from Pulse Asia released on Monday showed that 10 of the administration bets are on the top 14 slots, with Tulfo leading the way at the first spot.

READ: Rep. Tulfo, 9 others from admin slate in Senate ‘Magic 12’ – Pulse Asia 

Another survey, this time from OCTA Research, showed that 11 of the top 14 candidates belong to Alyansa.