Aquino hopes ratification of RH bill, other priority measures—Secretary Mamba

MANILA, Philippines—The ratification of the country’s visiting forces agreement with Australia and the passage in the Senate of the sin tax reform measures are on President Aquino’s wish list, his chief emissary to Congress said on Saturday.

Secretary Manuel Mamba, chief of the presidential legislative liason office, said the administration would continue to push for the contentious Responsible Parenthood Bill and the Freedom of Information Bill.

Mamba’s remarks came almost on the eve of President Aquino’s state of the nation address before joint houses of Congress on Monday. President Aquino is expected to tell lawmakers his legislative agenda during the speech.

“We’re still very optimistic that many of President Aquino’s priority measures would be passed despite the limited window [of opportunity] for these to be passed,” Mamba said over state-run radio dzRB.

Mamba said deliberations on the country’s first two-trillion-peso national budget for next year and the forthcoming mid-term elections in 2013 are factors that might affect Congress’ work on the administration’s priority measures.