BALANGA CITY — Bataan Second District Representative Jose Enrique Garcia III filed three legislative bills seeking to boost public health and to secure economic activities during a pandemic crisis in the country.
In a statement, Garcia explained that the nation should be prepared and responsive in the future to fully address challenges brought by another possible pandemic similar to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Among policies filed is House Bill No. 6651 or the Philippine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Act which aims to prepare a system and several facilities in response to manage infectious disease.
“Like in other countries that have been successful in their fight against COVID-19, we would want to create a Center for Disease Control and Prevention. It will be the agency that will focus on observing and monitoring diseases and its threats to the people,” Garcia explained.
Along with this, Garcia eyes to make electronic money (e-money) transaction open and available to all as per his House Bill No. 6652 or the Use of Electronic Money Act of 2020.
According to the solon, e-money transactions prevent physical distribution or processing of money.
“This will speed-up the process of distributing financial aid of the government to its beneficiaries, and it will prevent the transferral system of handing the money from one person to another,” the lawmaker said.
Moreover, Garcia’s House Bill No. 6653 or Imposing Sales Tax in lieu of Value-Added Tax (VAT) was also filed to the Congress which seeks to address further damages of a pandemic to the economy.
“It is time for a four percent sales tax instead of the 12 percent VAT. The sales tax system will bring lower prices for consumers and lower the company’s cost of doing business,” Garcia stated.
“In these times when the economy and employment are affected, it will be a huge contribution for the citizens to alleviate the difficulties they are experiencing,” the solon furthered.
Garcia added that he will continuously research and study the policies in order to prepare the nation to have better response measures come another health and economic threat like the COVID-19 crisis. (CLJD/MJSD-PIA 3)