By Leslie Aquino A former head of the Philippine Bible Society is in favor of the bill seeking to exempt Bibles and other religious articles from taxes, duties fees, and other charges. (ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN) Bishop Noel Pantoja, who is also the National Director of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, said he supports the bill to make the Bible accessible to more people. "Exempting Bibles and other religious articles from taxes will promote better accessibility of the masses to materials that would build character, good manners and conduct of Filipinos," he said in an interview. Pantoja said even President Duterte himself showed genuine concern for the well being and values transformation of God-loving Filipinos when he declared National Bible Month to be celebrated and legislated the National Bible Day. House Bill 2071 filed by Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. aims to make churches that enjoy tax exemption, truly unburdened with taxes and other fees imposed by government. "It is ironic that to enjoy tax exemption, churches are being required to secure first from the Bureau of Internal Revenue tax exemption certificates,” he was quoted in a report. “This bill , therefore aims to do away with the requirement of tax certificates for churches to be tax exempt from specific transactions, properties, goods, merchandise and other articles used actually, directly and exclusively for religious, charitable and educational purposes, hence its immediate passage is earnestly requested,” Abante said. Under Abante’s proposal, Bibles, religious books or articles, and other articles and merchandise imported to a church in the Philippines should be tax exempt.