Marcos signs MSMEs, veteran benefits, cultural dev’t bills into laws

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed bills on local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs); benefits for disabled veterans; and cultural development, making them into laws, said the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Friday.

According to the PCO in a statement, one of these bills is Republic Act (RA) No. 11960 titled, “An Act Institutionalizing the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Program, Appropriating Funds Therefor, and for Other Purposes,” otherwise known as the OTOP Philippines Act.

PCO said OTOP aims to develop an independent national economy controlled by Filipinos, driving inclusive local economic activity and boosting national economic growth.

The same law also aims to provide adequate and effective support services for local MSMEs led by the Department of Trade and Industry, collaborating with various government agencies.

The second bill signed into law by the President is RA 11958, or “An Act Rationalizing the Disability Pension of Veterans, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act. No. 6948, Entitled, ‘An Act Standardizing and Upgrading the Benefits for Military Veterans and their Dependents.”

The law, an amendment of RA 6974, aims to provide a monthly disability pension to veterans who were disabled in the line of duty.

Furthermore, Marcos also approved RA No. 11961, titled “An Act Strengthening the Conservation and Protection of Philippine Cultural Heritage Through Cultural Mapping and Enhanced Cultural Heritage Education Program,” an amendment to Republic Act No. 10066 or the “National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.”

RA No. 11961 pushes cultural preservation to ” maintain the Filipino identity and celebrate collective pride.”

Under the rules, signed laws shall become effective 15 days after publication unless the Legislature fixes a different effectivity date.

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