Aquino to convene LEDAC on July 12

MANILA, Philippines—President Aquino will convene the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) on July 12, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

“We will ask (Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa) if there are any new bills that we would like to push for,” said Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda during the day’s news briefing.

Asked if the reproductive health bill would be included in the priority measures that would be put forth to Congress through the LEDAC, Lacierda said, “It’s ongoing. It’s already for debate.”

When asked whether President Aquino would endorse the Freedom of Information bill that promotes transparency in the bureaucracy, Lacierda only said that the government had received a draft copy of the measure but he did not say if it would be included among the legislative priorities to be presented to the LEDAC.

“We have a draft. It’s with (Budget) Secretary Butch Abad. We have to discuss with him the status of our draft,” Lacierda said.