MANILA, Philippines — The Senate ways and means committee asked Thursday President Benigno S. Aquino III to certify as urgent a bill seeking to eliminate the common carrier’s tax (CCT) on international carriers, a move that is expected to boost tourist arrivals by 70,000 more on the first year and immediately create 70,000 new jobs.

Sen. Ralph G. Recto, committee chairman, made the call after conducting a hearing Thursday on Senate Bill 3065 where “a meeting of the minds” was reached between the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) on the need to pass the bill.

The government officials who agreed that the measure would help the economy were Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez and Finance Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa Habitan.

“We are pushing for this bill amid the humid political weather brought about by the impeachment of a Supreme Court Chief Justice. We’re sending the signal that the Palace and Congress have not lost touch with its economic priorities,” Recto said.

Recto said the passage by Congress of the bill “would not only help in tourism but also in exports as we will be more competitive, we export in bigger volumes.”

“Initially, they agreed that 70,000 jobs will be created immediately,” he added.

Since tax measures emanate from the House of Representatives, Recto said the President should certify the pending House bill “and there is no reason in my mind that he will certify it as urgent.”