House passes 18 bills on final reading days before adjournment for election period

The plenary hall of the House of Representatives. (File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives passed 18 bills on final reading on Monday, just two days before adjourning for the election campaign period, which starts on Feb. 8, House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco noted in a statement.

The national and local elections will take place on May 9.

“Before we return to our districts to prepare for the upcoming electoral campaign, it is only necessary that we approve all bills that are ready for final reading,” Velasco said. “These measures reflect a lot of hard work and promise to positively and meaningfully impact the lives of people we represent.”

Among the measures approved is House Bill 10701, a proposed law granting mandatory continuing benefits to public and private health workers, including barangay health workers, during public health emergencies.

The House also passed HB 10697, “An Act Establishing the National Center for Geriatric Health and Research Institute, Defining its Powers and Functions, Creating Regional Geriatric Specialty Centers in Department of Health-Retained Hospitals, and Appropriating Funds Therefore.”

Also approved on final reading are the following national bills:

• HB 10571, regulating the operation of motorcycles-for-hire
• HB 10575, enhancing the competitiveness of Philippine maritime trade by strengthening the oversight functions of relevant government agencies over charges imposed by international shipping lines
• HB 10612, providing for full and effective implementation of international maritime instruments to which the Philippines is a state party
• HB 10647, granting additional benefits to Filipino centenarians and recognizing octogenarians and nonagenarians
• HB 10648, granting a legislative franchise to Oro Broadcasting Network Inc.
• HB 10650, establishing apex hospitals in every region of the country and providing funds for them
• HB 10672, renaming the Literacy Coordinating Council to National Literacy Council, strengthening its powers and functions, and expanding its membership structure and support mechanisms
• HB 10690, prescribing the use of neo-ethnic Philippine textiles in the academic regalia of all state universities and colleges
• HB 10625, creating the Department of Economics and Development Planning
• HB 10657, promoting Philippine indigenous and traditional writing systems and providing for their protection, preservation, and conservation
• HB 10658, strengthening the policies on anti-trafficking in persons and appropriating funds for it, amending for the purpose Republic Act 9208, as amended, otherwise known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003
• HB 10693, converting the Provincial Science and Technology Center into the Provincial Science and Technology Office in every province and appropriating funds for it, repealing for the purpose RA 6959
• HB 10696, institutionalizing the practice of extended producer responsibility on plastic products, amending for this purpose RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000
• HB 10698, strengthening the Sangguniang Kabataan by institutionalizing additional reforms to revitalize youth participation in local governance and by providing honorarium and other benefits and privileges
• HB 10703, strengthening the protection against online or offline child sexual abuse or exploitation

The House also ratified the bicameral conference reports on the disagreeing provisions of the House and Senate versions of bills creating the Judicial Marshal Service, strengthening teacher education, and amending the contractors’ license law.

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