Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda (Rep. Salceda's office)


Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda of the House of Representatives has challenged the Senate to "match their speed" when it comes to legislation. “I urge the Senate, for this and in general, try to match the speed with which the House disposes of urgent measures," Salceda, House Ways and Means Committee chairman, said in a statement. “The majority, on both houses, exists for a reason. We exist because the people want us to get things done fast," he said. Salceda’s statement came at the heels of the House's passage on Monday, May 15 of House Bill (HB) No. 7909, which extends the estate tax amnesty period from June 14, 2023 to June 14, 2025. For Congress to beat the existing law's deadline--which is less than a month away--the Senate must pass its counterpart bill on estate tax amnesty extension. It should be noted that Congress (House and the Senate) is only in session up to June 2. After that, the two legislative chambers will adjourn sine die and mark the end of the first regular session of the 19th Congress. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will also have to sign the consolidated measure for it to become a law. "For estate tax amnesty extension, it’s a yes or no question. Not much need for debate here. It’s simply to extend or not to extend,” Salceda said. As such, the Bicolano prodded the senators to “pass the estate tax amnesty extension over the next few session days, before the window closes". “If the Senate doesn’t do this over the next few days, the amnesty will expire while we are not in session. There will be a window of time, meanwhile, when people are uncertain about what to do next with their estates. "This is a yes-or-no question with a clear deadline, and with clear consequences if we miss the deadline," Salceda said.