Manila, Aug. 4 -- The House Committee on Ways and Means on Tuesday began deliberations on the Marcos administration's proposed income tax reform measure aimed at benefiting an estimated 4.2 million Filipino workers whose salaries have only kept pace with inflation.

Opening the committee's briefing by the Department of Finance, Ways and Means Committee chair and Marikina 2nd District Rep. Romero Federico "Miro" Quimbo said the proposal implements the policy directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. outlined in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) to address the concerns of the country's "missing middle."

"The President's policy directive during his penultimate SONA to initiate income tax reform has struck a chord with milli...