Speaker: House ‘almost done’ with priority agenda

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez—HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PHOTO

As Congress resumes its sessions on Monday, the House of Representatives said that it is “almost done” passing all priority bills under the administration of President Marcos, Speaker Martin Romualdez said on Sunday.

“We are almost done with the priority bills agreed upon by Congress and the executive branch. We have approved on final reading all but four of the 57 measures in the Ledac (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council) list,” Romualdez said in a statement.

Of the four remaining measures, House Bill No. 9713, or the Act institutionalizing a Philippine self-reliant defense posture program and promoting the development of a national defense industry pursuant thereto, is set to be passed on the third and final reading.

Romualdez pointed out that the measure’s approval would help the country form a credible defense program and industry, making it independent from foreign allies and suppliers for its defense requirements.

Other bills

On the other hand, the remaining three Ledac measures are the “Electric Power Industry Reform Act, which is under technical working group finalization; and Budget Modernization Bill, and National Defense Act, which are under committee consideration.”

Romualdez said President Marcos has already signed 11 Ledac bills, including “the SIM Registration Act, postponement of Barangay/Sangguniang Kabataan elections, strengthening professionalism in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, New Agrarian Reform Emancipation Act, Maharlika Investment Fund Act, regional specialty hospitals, national employment recovery strategy/Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, LGU (local government unit) Income Classification Act, Internet Transaction Act/E-Commerce Law, amendments to the BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) Law/PPP (Public-Private Partnership) Bill and Ease of Paying Taxes Act.”

He added that four other Ledac bills—the New Passport Act, revitalizing the salt industry bill, Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, and Tatak Pinoy Act—have been ratified by the lower and upper chambers, while two measures amending the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act and Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System Act, will undergo the bicameral conference process.

Romualdez said 36 Ledac bills have already been approved on the third and final reading.

Among these measures are the bill on the Virology Institute of the Philippines, Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act, National Disease Prevention Management Authority, and Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team Act.