By Hannah Torregoza  Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said he hopes that senators would be able to start debating on the measure imposing higher excise tax on tobacco this week in order to get the bill moving on to its eventual approval on third and final reading before the end of the 17th Congress. Gatchalian, one of the senators who filed the measure, said it would be best if the Senate ways and means panel finally sponsors the measure on Monday so that interpellations can start on Tuesday, and amendments could be introduced by Wednesday. “I admit we really have a very limited time… assuming that there would be not much questions we can do it, but if there would be lengthy questions and amendments on the bill, then the timetable would be pushed back until next week,” Gatchalian said in a Radio DZBB interview. “Hopefully, we can finish this on Wednesday, so that we can go immediately on bicam (bicameral conference committee) level during the weekend,” Gatchalian added. The senator said this week is crucial for the measure increasing the tax on cigarettes and other priority legislation of the Senate as well. Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier said the Senate will try its best to finish all priority measures before the 17th Congress adjourns on June 7. Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, chair of the Senate ways and means panel, last week, released the draft committee report on the measure and routed it for signature among senators. Angara’s draft report recommended a gradual increase in excise tax for tobacco starting 2020 until 2023, and then increased by five percent every year starting Jan. 1, 2024. Angara earlier said the ways and means panel is looking at a “45, 50, 55, 60” gradual increase in excise tobacco tax, from 2020 to 2023. To shorten debates, Gatchalian said he has already written Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara and sought an explanation on why he recommended a five-year gradual increase. “That’s right, we prefer to ask Sen. Angara personally on his evaluation, what was his findings, why he chose a five year plan. Because I prefer a one time, big time increase,” he said. “But let’s give the sponsor the opportunity to explain his findings because he made the research,” he added.