Duterte set to push congress on virus recovery and successor

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his 6th State of the Nation Address (SONA), at the House of Representative in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines,on July 26, 2021. - Reuters

MANILA, July 27 (Bloomberg): Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is poised to capitalise on his popularity to push for pandemic recovery measures that could bolster his candidate in next year’s election.

In his last annual address to Congress on Monday, Duterte is expected to urge lawmakers to pass bills to complete his tax agenda. Legislators will await Duterte’s directives on any further stimulus for pandemic recovery and on pending revenue bills, including proposed taxes on online casinos, House ways and means committee chairperson Joey Salceda said.