MANILA, Philippines — Newly installed chairman of the House committee on ways and means Tuesday vowed to act swiftly on proposals seeking to restructure the so-called “sin taxes”, saying that the panel is determined to make the tax bills on liquor and tobacco its main concern in the coming days.

Rep. Isidro Ungab, a member of the Liberal Party, said Malacañang’s wish in getting the bills approved will be observed.

The sub-committee on national internal revenue chaired by Rep. Eric “Owen” Singson Jr. (NP, Ilocos Sur) has also made a commitment to present the panel report on pending sin tax bills by the end of this month.

“In other words this week, the subcommittee will wrap up its discussions and start making its report to the mother committee. I think the January 31 commitment is reasonable,” said Ungab who replaced Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas as head of the ways and means panel.

Mandanas was replaced, reportedly for refusing to sign the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. This report, however, was denied by the House leadership.]

Ungab disclosed that there are ten sin tax proposals pending in the subcommittee chaired by Singson.

The Malacanang version of the bill amending the current excise tax bill will be filed this week by Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, LP partymate of Ungab.

Ungab said the Palace proposal will be referred directly to the ways and means committee.

“It will not be taken up anymore by the subcommittee. It’s the mother committee that will take it up. We have limited time already. By November this year, the election fever is expected to heat up. Probably by June, the sin tax bill may have already been taken up in the plenary,” he explained.

The neophyte solon said the House will do its best to pass a new version of the sin tax law.

“Matagal-tagal na rin ito, 16 years na,” Ungab said.

He also assured the subcommittee on national internal revenue that the mother committee will tackle the issues in the pending excise tax bills.

At the same time, he vowed to also check on the Palace proposal.

“Being part of the administration, I am duty-bound to support the administration measure, and as committee chairman, I also have to listen to all stakeholders and sectors involved,” Ungab said.

As to the concern of tobacco farmers that their livelihood will be affected by the enactment of new excise tax rates, Ungab said this will form part of their deliberations.

“There are position papers on that, and it will also depend on what the House will approve because a certain amount of the taxes will go to either agricultural production or health services,” Ungab said.