Senate eyes passage of Bongbong Marcos remaining priority bills by December

SENATE APPROVES BILLS ON 2ND READING: Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri presides over the plenary session Tuesday, September 19, 2023. The Senate tackled the amendments to several measures and approved on second reading Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2001 otherwise known as the New Philippine Passport Act, SBN 2028 expanded the coverage of the Centenarians Act, SBN 1846 also known as the Internet Transactions Act of 2022, and several local higher education bills. (Senate PRIB Photos)

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Wednesday vowed to pass by December the remaining 10 priority measures named by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac).

Out of the 20 priority measures, the Senate has only been able to pass half of it. With less than four months before December, the Upper Chamber must be able to pass the remaining bills before the break.

“We are happy to announce na halos kalahati ay natapos na rin namin sa Senado. Magiging batas na po siya and those that are pending na magiging batas within the next few weeks, and hopefully the President will be able to sign it,” said Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri in a Palace statement.

READ: Congress tasked anew with Ledac bills to be passed by December 2023

(We are happy to announce that almost half has been done by the Senate. They will become laws, and those that are pending will become laws within the next few weeks, and hopefully, the President will be able to sign it.)

Ledac bills in the Senate include:

1. National Employment Action Plan
2. LGU Income Classification
3. Internet Transaction Act
4. BOT/PPP Act
5. Salt Development Industry Act
6. Ease of Paying Taxes
7. Real Property Evaluation and Assessment Reform Act
8. Magna Carta for Seafarers
9. Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act
10. Waste-to-Energy Bill
11. National Disease Prevention Management Authority
12. Amendments to the Banking Act or the Fund Secrecy Law
13. Medical Reserve Corps
14. Virology Institute of the Philippines
15. E-Governance Act
16. New Philippine Passport Act
17. National Government Rightsizing Act
18. National Scamming Act
19. National Citizens Service Training Program Act
20. Military and Uniformed Personnel Pension System Act

The Senate President said lawmakers will pass the General Appropriations Act 2024 by December.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has passed more bills, with 18 of 20 priority measures passed.

JPV