MANILA -  Senate President Francis Escudero on Tuesday said the Senate will try to approve amendments to the country's electric power law and corporate tax law before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's fourth State of the Nation Address next year. 

Marcos said amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) as priorities in his 3rd State of the Nation Address on Monday

"Buo ang kumpiyansa kong maipapasa namin yan bago sa susunod niyang SONA next year," Escudero said.

(I am confident we can approve before the SONA next year.)

Escudero noted that the President didn't mention new bills outside of previously mentioned priorities in the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council or LEDAC.

Escudero said they want the EPIRA amendments to lead to lower power rates but he noted that the administration has not yet filed its version of the proposal.

The Senate leader said he has already asked the Energy Department and Office of the President for input as the Senate drafts its proposal.

"Basically, layunin lamang ng amendment na ito mapalaki pa, mapadami pa ang supply ng kuryente sa ating bansa," Escudero said. 

(Basically, the amendment's goal is to widen and increase power supply in the country.)

Senator JV Ejercito welcomed the president's call to amend EPIRA.

"Power generation, distribution and high rates should be addressed and prioritized! About time EPIRA is amended," Ejercito said in a statement.

The Senate chief meantime said that he expects plenary debates soon on the proposed CREATE More bill, which already hurdled the House of Representatives.

He said Senator Sherwin Gatchalian will submit his committee report soon so we expect to approve it as the House already approved it.