House Committee on Ways and Means chairman, Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Miro Quimbo is endorsing the bill lowering value-added tax (VAT) from 12 percent to at least 10 percent to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

This, as Quimbo highlighted the game-changing nature of the measure, filed by 32-year-old Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste.

Last Sept. 3, Legarda Leviste filed House Bill (HB) No. 4302, or the proposed VAT Reduction Act of 2025.

“We have also proposed that the matter be taken up at the LEDAC because I think it’s something very significant, something like this should be discussed at the highest level," Quimbo said during the ways and means panel hearing Tuesday, Sept. 17.

"So the LEDAC is taking place Thursday next week, if I’m not mistaken, I’ve requested that it also be taken up," the economist-solon said of the meeting, which the President himself leads. The council essentially lists the very top priority bills of any given year.

While the Department of Finance (DOF) is studying other measures to offset the reduction in VAT, Leviste asked for Quimbo's support for a lower VAT through either a tax on the homes of the 10,000 wealthiest Filipino households or a reduction in the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“I think the Constitution requires our tax system to be progressive, so anything that is in line with progressivity, meaning taking from those who have much and getting less from those who have less, the committee will always be supportive of that,” Quimbo said.

“If we do not have a wealth tax to support the lowering of the VAT in the 20th Congress, then perhaps this committee can nonetheless lower the VAT and move that we instead slash government spending, particularly given the administration’s findings of significant wastage in the DPWH budget," Leviste said, alluding to the flood control projects controversy.

"Perhaps we can move for a slashing of the budget of DPWH by P200 billion...to support lowering the VAT by 2 percent resulting in P7,000 of additional disposable income in the pockets of every Filipino family. Would you support this measure, Mr. Chair?” the neophyte solon asked.

Quimbo said: “100 percent I support, gusto mo gawin pa natin P300 billion iyan eh (If you want we can make that P300 billion).”

“Thank you, Mr. chair. Iyung 10 percent, pwede natin ibaba sa 9 percent na lang (In that case we can further lower the 10 percent to 9 percent,” Leviste replied.

Leviste thanked Quimbo for backing his pet measure and for giving him hope of its expedited passage.

“I’m so thankful for the full support of the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means that I would hope that in the next meeting, we can begin hearing the proposed bill to lower the VAT to at least 10%, if not 9% as the chair has suggested."