Congress targets to pass at least 8 more measures before Christmas break, Drilon says

Senate President Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives have agreed to tackle and pass at least eight proposed measures before taking a Christmas break on December 17, 2014, Senate President Franklin Drilon said on Tuesday.

“After our monthly meeting, we have reached a consensus with the House of Representatives to enact at least eight or nine proposed measures before Congress takes a Christmas break on December 17,” Drilon said in a statement.

“We are resolved to finish priority measures, in recognition of their immense benefits to the public and the urgency needed to properly effect such legislation.”

“For instance, we are bound to enact the bill that will raise the tax exemption ceiling of 13th month pay and other benefits from P30,000 to P82,000 so that the President will be able to sign it before the year ends,” Drilon added.

While the ceiling of the House-approved measure was only pegged at P75,000, the Senate leader said the Lower House agreed to adopt the Senate’s version, raising it further to P82,000.

Drilon said Congress will also pass the Fair Competition Act “in order to promote economic efficiency in trade, industry and commerce through the prohibition of anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position, and anti-competitive mergers which distort and restrict competition.”

“Having a competition law will foster the competitive environment in our national economy, spur economic efficiency and innovation, and attract investments—all of which lead to lower prices, higher quality of products and services, and more choices for consumers,” he said.

He said the House will pass its version of the Senate Joint Resolution 2 that seeks to expand subsistence allowance of Filipino soldiers.

“Our soldiers have waited long enough for us to help them in their daily expenses, and we intend to end their wait,” said Drilon.

The House, he said, will likewise approve its own version of the Senate Bill 2138 that seeks to strengthen the current structure of the Sandiganbayan.

Drilon, who authored the bill along with Senate Committee on Justice Chairman Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, explained that the bill will decongest the clogged dockets of the country’s anti-graft court.

Among the measures that Congress agreed to pass are the bills that will establish open high school system for out of school youth, amend the Fisheries Code, repeal a provision in the Revised Penal Code penalizing premature marriage and authorize the sale of Zest Airways to Air Asia Philippines.

Drilon said Congress will also tackle the supplemental budget being requested by the executive.

But since it is an appropriation measure, he said, the House has to act on it first. Drilon though assured that the Senate would immediately scrutinize it once it reaches the chamber.

Drilon said Congress is also expected to pass and submit to the President for his approval the proposed 2015 General Appropriations Act.

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