House Speaker Sonny Belmonte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Monday said that lawmakers’ efforts will be doubled this third regular session as he urged his colleagues to approve the K+12 measure and to vote on the controversial Reproductive Health Bill.
He said that the RH Bill “has been discussed from every possible perspective by advocates and opponents alike not only in this Congress but in past sessions of Congress. I think it is time we finally put it to a vote. Let the chips fall where they may.”
He said that the same could be said for the Freedom of Information Bill.
According to Belmonte said, lawmakers will also prioritize proposed measures on investments and job generation, good governance, greater peace and security, and addressing rural growth and urbanization problems.
“We must redouble our efforts in this third and last session of this Congress,” he urged lawmakers.
Among the bills which he said should be supported are the complementary Anti-Trust Act which seeks to establish level playing field among firms, the amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), the amendments to the National Electrification Administration’s Charter, the Rationalization of the Charters of the Philippine Ports Authority, MARINA, and the Civil Aeronautics Board; and the National Transport Policy Act.
Aside from the creation of a Fiscal Responsibility Act, Belmonte also saw amendments as necessary for the Government Procurement Reform Act, the Charter of the Bangko Sentral, Amendment to the National Defense and Security Act, and the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act.