Aquino to convene Ledac

President Benigno Aquino III will be convening the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) on July 12, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

The announcement came following the signing by the President of four new laws that are seen to help the poor and the labor force.

According to Mr. Aquino, the new laws were “just the beginning of more programs and support legislation to be instituted for the benefit of our people.”

The President chairs the Ledac which serves as a consultative and advisory body to the Chief Executive. Its members include the Vice President, the Senate President, the House Speaker, seven Cabinet members, three senators, three House members, and one representative each from local government, youth and the private sector.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told a news briefing on Wednesday Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa would be asked “if there are any new bills that we would like to push for”.

Asked if the reproductive health (RH) bill will be included on the list of priority measures to be presented to Congress through Ledac, Lacierda said: “It’s ongoing. It’s already for debate.”

He could not say whether the freedom of information bill would be deemed a priority measure either.

“We have a draft. It’s with (Budget) Secretary Butch Abad. We have to discuss with him the status of our draft,” Lacierda said.