In a significant stride towards improving healthcare accessibility in rural areas, the 19th Congress Committee on Ways and Means has given its nod to tax provisions for House Bill 6771 during the Committee Hearing held on February 27, 2024. The bill, titled “An Act Establishing a College of Medicine in the Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU) in the City of Tacurong,” was authored by Princess Rihan Sakaluran, the esteemed Representative of Sultan Kudarat’s 1st District.
Spearheading the initiative, Cong. JC Abalos of the 4Ps partylist, who sponsored HB 6771, emphasized its alignment with legislators’ commitment to enhancing health services, particularly in rural and remote regions. Cong. Abalos underscored the bill’s potential to broaden educational opportunities for students and healthcare workers in the region.
The bill stipulates that all grants, bequests, endowments, donations, and contributions exclusively utilized for educational purposes by the College shall be exempt from donor’s tax. Such contributions will also be considered allowable deductions from gross income for computing the taxable income of the donor, in accordance with the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997. One notable provision of the bill highlights the exemption of the college from customs duties on the importation of medical books, publications, and equipment for medical, laboratory, or scientific purposes. This exemption is contingent upon certification by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and aligns with the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
The SKSU College of Medicine is a collaborative effort between the University and the Provincial Local Government of Sultan Kudarat, led by the very supportive Governor, Hon. Datu Pax Ali S. Mangudadatu.
