MANILA - Several senators remain non-committal on quickly passing the administration's tax reform bill, even after President Duterte called for this on Monday.

"I call on the Senate to support my tax reform in full," Duterte said in his second State of the Nation Address.

But Senators Sonny Angara and Grace Poe said that before senators pass the tax reform bill, they must first ensure that the interest of the general public will also be protected.

Angara, who is chairman of the Senate committee on ways and means, said the upper house is trying to speed up deliberation on the tax reform bill and is carefully discussing it with affected stakeholders.

He also admitted that he was feeling a bit of pressure with President's statement.

"Yun ang personality ni Pangulo. It's part of our job," Angara said.

Senate Majority Leader Tito Sotto also said he could not commit the Senate to approving the tax bill in full.

"Yung kabuuan ng package ang gusto niya eh. We'll try our best, we'll try our best to cooperate," Sotto said.

Senator Gringo Honasan said he still has to discuss the tax reform bill with his colleagues.

Senator Dick Gordon, meanwhile, said the Senate would have its hands full with Duterte's request to quickly approve the tax reform bill.