Citing data that more than half of the population remains vulnerable to poverty, 4Ps Partylist Representative JC Abalos called Wednesday for the urgent passage of tax relief measures to increase the take-home pay of Filipino workers.

Abalos pointed to a recent study from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) which found that 58.7 percent of the population is economically vulnerable. The study noted that sustained policies to reduce this vulnerability are essential for the country to achieve a predominantly middle-class society by 2040.

In response to the findings, Abalos urged colleagues to support a suite of tax relief bills he introduced in August 2025. The first of these, House Bill 3782, proposes making medical expenses for critical illnesses deductible from income tax to ease the financial burden on families facing health crises.

The lawmaker is also pushing House Bill 3783, which seeks to exclude compensation from overtime, night shift differentials, and hazard pay from income tax computations. Additionally, House Bill 3784 proposes raising the tax-exempt ceiling for the 13th-month pay and other bonuses from P90,000 to P120,000, ensuring that year-end incentives remain in the pockets of employees.

“Taxes should not place an undue burden on Filipino workers,” Abalos said, arguing that these measures would boost purchasing power and serve as a direct intervention against poverty.