House seen to pass several Ledac-priority bills before session ends
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives is expected to stay on track in approving several priority bills highlighted by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) before Congress goes into sine die adjournment on June 6.
A statement from the House media bureau on Wednesday showed that five Ledac priority bills were approved on second reading late Tuesday night:
- House Bill (HB) No. 9257 or the Strengthening the Bases Conversion and Development Authority
- HB No. 9397 – Right to Information Act of 2026
- HB No. 9461 – Child Online Safety and Protection Act of 2026
- HB No. 9465 – An Act Prohibiting the Deliberate Dissemination of False Information that Poses Verifiable Public Harm or Serious Threat to National Security, Establishing Digital Platform Accountability and Transparency Mechanisms, and Promoting Media and Digital Literacy
- HB No. 9466 – Converting the National Feeding Program into a National Nutrition Program
READ: House approves bill vs fake news on 2nd reading
The House’s approval of the bills on second reading on Tuesday night allows the measures to be considered on third reading. House rules, however, require a three-day interval before a bill approved on second reading may be taken up on third reading.
Aside from these five bills, the House has also approved HB No. 8389, or the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act, another Ledac priority measure.
If these bills are approved on third reading before the session adjourns, the number of Ledac priority bills passed by the chamber would rise to 26 — half of the 52 measures identified as priorities by the Marcos administration.
The 20 Ledac measures approved by the House in the 20th Congress are the following:
- Resetting the First Regular Elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
- National Center for Geriatric Health, now under bicameral conference committee
- National Land Use Act
- Amendments to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act
- Amendments to EPIRA, seeking to strengthen the Energy Regulatory Commission
- Waste-to-Energy Act
- Amendments to the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act
- Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations Act
- Philippine Building Act
- Blue Economy Act
- National Reintegration Bill
- Amendments to the Teachers Professionalization Act
- Extension of Estate Tax Amnesty Period
- Department of Water Resources Bill
- Amendments to the Bank Deposits Secrecy Law
- Travel Tax Abolition
- Digital Payments Act
- Amendments to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act
- Presidential Merit Scholarship Program
- Amendments to the Biofuels Act
Earlier, House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III said the House is maximizing the remaining time before adjournment to sustain its legislative momentum and push for bills that directly address transparency, child protection, public welfare, digital accountability, and economic development.
READ: Bojie Dy: House maximizes remaining session days; Ledac measures advance
Dy said a total of 36 bills were approved on third reading and 29 proposals hurdled second reading.
“When the government is more open to the people, public trust becomes stronger, and accountability in public service is reinforced. Transparency remains one of the strongest safeguards against corruption,” Dy said.
“Investments in nutrition are investments in the future of our country. A healthy child is a child better prepared to learn and study,” he added, referring to the bill seeking to expand the school-based feeding program.
READ: House OKs on 2nd reading bill expanding school feeding program
Regarding the fight against fake news, Dy said that “technology should never become a tool for abuse,” adding that it is the role of the government to ensure that Filipinos remain safe online.
“We must continue strengthening our laws and enforcement mechanisms to ensure the safety and protection of Filipino children in digital spaces,” he said. /mcm
