PRIORITY BILLS. Speaker Martin Romualdez (center) reports the status of the priority bills of the Legislative-Executive Development Council (LEDAC) during a full meeting presided over by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Malacañang on Tuesday (June 25, 2024). Romualdez said the House approved all 20 priority LEDAC measures on third and final reading last March, three months ahead of the schedule. (Photo courtesy of the Speaker's office)
Speaker Martin Romualdez on Tuesday reported that the House of Representatives has accomplished its task of approving the priority bills of the Marcos administration to help achieve its security and sustainable socioeconomic targets.
During the full meeting of the Legislative-Executive Development Council (LEDAC) presided over by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Malacañang, Romualdez reported that the House passed all 20 priority LEDAC measures on the third and final reading last March, which was three months ahead of the scheduled passage by the end of June 2024.
Of the 20 bills, three have been enacted into law, three are undergoing the enrollment process, four bills are under deliberation by bicameral conference committees (bicam), while the 10 other measures have been approved on third and final reading by the House.
“The House of the People has done its homework. Our accomplishments reflect our proactive stance in catering to the needs of the people by passing these much-needed legislation that are attuned to the Philippine Development Plan and the 8-point socio-economic agenda under the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework of the President,” Romualdez said.
He added that the House is now awaiting Senate action on several of the priority legislative proposals.
“We will await the version of the Senate for possible adoption by the House as an amendment to the House bill, or for bicameral conference committee meeting,” he said.
The Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act, the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System Act, and the Negros Island Region Act are the three most recent LEDAC bills that President Marcos has signed into law, according to House records.
Proposed amendments to the Government Procurement Reform Act, and the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act, and the Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming bill are currently undergoing the enrollment process.
The four measures undergoing bicam deliberation are the proposed Philippine Defense Industry Development Act/Self-Reliant Defense Posture Act, Philippine Maritime Zones Act, Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program Act, and Value-Added Tax on Digital Transactions Act.
The other LEDAC priority bills the House has approved on third and final reading are the Waste Treatment Technology bill, Instituting a National Citizens Service Training Program, E-Governance bill, Open Access in Data Transmission bill, Military and Uniformed Personnel Pension Reform bill.
The remaining LEDAC bills include the proposed Blue Economy Act, the Department of Water Resources / National Water Resources Act, the CREATE MORE Act, the Enterprise-Based Education and Training Program Act, and proposed amendments to the Universal Health Care Act.
The House report also showed that as of June 25, 2024, the LEDAC had 59 priority measures, 13 of which are now laws.
These laws include the SIM Registration Act, Postponement of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, Strengthening Professionalism in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, New Agrarian Emancipation Act, Maharlika Investment Fund, Regional Specialty Hospitals, Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, Local Government Unit (LGU) Income Classification.
Also included are the Internet Transaction Act, Amendments to the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law, Ease of Paying Taxes, Tatak Pinoy (Proudly Filipino) Act, New Philippine Passport Act, Revitalizing the Salt Industry Act, Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System, Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act, and Negros Island Region Act.
3 remaining bills
Romualdez also committed to approve the remaining three of the 28 bills identified by the LEDAC for approval before the end of the 19th Congress next year.
These are the Foreign Investors’ Long-Term Lease Act, the Agrarian Reform Law, and the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) Law.
The first two aforementioned bills are among the five additional measures that the LEDAC has added during the meeting to its list of priority measures, increasing the total to 64 from the current 59.
The other three new LEDAC measures are the proposed Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, reforms to the Philippine Capital Markets, and amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), all of which were approved on final reading by the House.
Romualdez said President Marcos underscored the need to approve these bills to help drive national progress and address significant concerns facing the country.
"The President has emphasized the importance of passing these measures to advance the policies of the Marcos administration for the country’s continued economic recovery, progress, and stability of our nation,” Marcos said.
Optimism
For his part, Senate President Francis Escudero emerged from his first LEDAC meeting with confidence that the collaborative efforts of Congress and the Executive branch will yield the best results.
He noted the productive discussions with President Marcos and Romualdez, as he emphasized the shared commitment to prioritize essential and meaningful legislation in the remaining 73 session days of the 19th Congress.
Escudero said the Upper Chamber will prioritize the passage of six of the remaining 10 priority measures identified by the LEDAC, along with three key Senate priority bills, when session resumes next month.
"The Senate is committed to working diligently toward the passage of these essential measures. We aim to address critical areas that will enhance our economic framework, environmental sustainability, and governance," Escudero said.
The Senate chief also pushed for the inclusion of three Senate priority measures in LEDAC's Common Legislative Agenda. These are the proposed amendments to the Right of Way Act (Republic Act 10752), Investors' Lease Act (RA 7652) and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (RA 6657).
The proposed amendments to RA 10752 aim to make it easier to grant right of way for public projects, while changes to RA 7652 would allow leasing private lands for up to 99 years to attract foreign investments.
The amendments to RA 6657 aim to lift restrictions on the ownership and transfer of lands awarded under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program to boost agricultural productivity.
"The amendments to these laws will provide the necessary legal framework to expedite infrastructure projects and attract more foreign investments, thereby creating more jobs and boosting our economy," Escudero said.
"Lifting restrictions on agrarian reform lands will also help increase agricultural productivity and improve the lives of our farmers," he added.
Escudero said the Senate's legislative agenda is geared toward inclusive and sustainable development.
"By focusing on these measures, we aim to foster economic resilience, improve public service delivery, and enhance the quality of life for all Filipinos," Escudero said.
"We are optimistic that with collaboration and dedication, we can achieve these legislative goals and make a meaningful impact on the lives of our citizens." (PNA)
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