Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and sister, Senator Pia Cayetano has called on the government to intensify the promotion of the Estate Tax Amnesty program so that more Filipinos can benefit once the measure seeking to extend its period of availment is enacted into law.

The siblings call came after Pia Cayetano, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, opened its first hearing into the various pending measures seeking to extend the validity period of the estate tax amnesty program last Tuesday, March 10.

“This issue was brought to my attention as a lawyer, not so much as a lawmaker. They (show participants) ask us questions in our show where we often encounter the layers of generations that did not settle the Estate Tax,” Pia Cayetano said, noting that most of the consultations was about ordinary Filipinos dealing with family property disputes.

“At the end of the day, you have to market this Amnesty that you're giving to the people so that they will know and avail this because this is how you can save. And we have to emphasize its benefit,” she told the government agency panel.

The Estate Tax Amnesty was first enacted in 2018 and implemented from 2019 to 2020 and later extended until 2022; the law aims to help Filipinos settle outstanding estate tax liabilities affordably.

During the hearing, the senators noted that based on data from 2019 to June 2025, the government collected P15.7-billion from approximately 322,000 taxpayers who availed themselves of it.

According to Cayetano, the pending measures allow heirs to settle unpaid estate taxes without paying interest, surcharges, and penalties. It also applies the current 6 percent estate tax rate, which is lower than the rates previously imposed.

She cited the case of a husband and wife who had kids but were unable to do anything with their property when they died.

“Then among the kids, one child lived on the property, the others didn't. Then the one who lived in the property also died. Then his children and the cousins want to get the property. Now that becomes the problem,” she said.

“They can settle it on their own, but the legal documents, the ownership will never be transferred unless they settle the taxes properly. This becomes the issue kasi nasa pangalan pa ng lolo, eh matagal nang patay si lolo. Away na talaga yan (because the property is in the father’s name. That’s bound to bring chaos). That's why it is important to settle the estate taxes,” she added.

Sen. Alan Cayetano, for his part, urged taxpayers to avail themselves of the Estate Tax Amnesty while emphasizing the importance of paying taxes as it is “the lifeline of government.”

“Mag-avail tayo ng tax amnesty. That's why we're having this hearing,” he said.