Quezon 4th district Rep. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” Tan  (Facebook)

House Assistant Majority Leader and Quezon 4th district Rep. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” Tan has responded to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address (SONA) by filing two measures that the latter had asked Congress to pass.

Filed by Tan on Tuesday, July 25, or a day after the President’s second SONA were House Bill (HB) No.8601, or the proposed "Tatak Pinoy (Proudly Filipino) Act"; and HB No.8600, or the proposed "Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act”.

Marcos delivered his speech on Monday afternoon, July 24 during a joint session of Congress at the plenary hall of the House of Representatives. Tan was among the over 300 lawmakers in attendance during the SONA.

Through HB No.8601, the young congressman wants to make local products competitive in the world market.

“With this measure, Philippine-made products, goods, and services can be made known to the world as it also seeks to encourage the pursuit of economic development and prosperity thereby uniting all Filipinos behind Tatak Pinoy enterprises," he explained.

The bill seeks the formulation of the Tatak Pinoy Strategy (TPS), which will be created, funded, and implemented by the Tatak Pinoy Council.

The council is a tripartite partnership between the director general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and the secretaries of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Finance (DOF).

On the other hand, Tan sought via HB No.8600 the institutionalization of heftier fines against those proven to have smuggled agricultural goods into the country.

The ranking solon noted that under current laws, no one has been punished yet despite what he described as the rampant smuggling of rice, sugar, onions, carrots, garlic, fish, and pork.

“Isasama na po natin hindi lang ang smuggling kundi ang hoarding, profiteering, at cartel bilang economic sabotage at itataas natin ang kaparusahan upang tuluyan nang masawata ang agricultural smuggling at maprotektahan ang ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda," Tan said.

(Asode from smuggling, we will also include hoarding, profiteering, and engaging in a cartel under the scope of economic sabotage and increase its penalties in a bid to finally get rid of agricultural smuggling and protect our farmers and fisherfolk.)

Marcos requested Congress (House and Senate) to pass a total of 17 measures during his SONA.