MANILA - The outgoing Duterte administration is still looking for ways to address the country's PHP12-trillion debt, Malacanang said Thursday. "Reducing the country's debt remains a priority," acting Presidential Spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a press statement. President Rodrigo Duterte's economic team, Andanar said, has proposed a fiscal consolidation and resource mobilization plan to pay off the country's huge debt. Andanar said the proposal contains "fair, efficient, and corrective tax measures." "These include the expansion of value added tax (VAT) base by removing ineffective VAT exemptions except for some sectors, among others, to generate revenues," he said. Andanar, however, acknowledged that the outgoing economic managers' recommendations are "subject to the consideration of the next Administration." The national government's outstanding debt rose to a new high of PHP12.68 trilli