Senate OKs 4 priority measures on 3rd, final reading

FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate approved on Monday four priority measures during third and final reading.

In line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Senate, in a plenary session, approved four priority bills included in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council’s (LEDAC) list.

These priority measures are as follows:

• Senate Bill No. 2001 (New Philippine Passport Act)
• Senate Bill No. 2224 (Ease of Paying Taxes Act)
• Senate Bill No. 2233 (Public-Private Partnerships Act)
• Senate Bill No. 1846 (Internet Transactions Act of 2022)

The first three measures were approved with 20 affirmative votes, zero negative, and zero abstentions, while SBN 1846, received 20 affirmative votes, one negative, and zero abstention.

Internet Transactions Act of 2022

Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel voted against the third reading approval of SBN 1846, reiterating his stand that presidential certification can be issued only for measures which are meant to address public calamity or an emergency.

Marcos earlier certified the SBN 1846 as a priority measure, seeking to strengthen consumer protection against fraud and illicit activities.

“This is an unfortunate turn of events. We could’ve approved this in the normal course of proceeding, but of course if we have discovered some errors, we need to perfect our measures here that we have approved,” said Pimentel.

“This representation objects to two readings in one day which we are about to do,” he added.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri acknowledged Pimentel’s stand, but he also made it clear that with the proliferation of scams and fraudulent schemes on the internet, the measure should be a priority, hence, the upper chamber will “proceed.”

Ease of Paying Taxes Act

SBN 2224 or the Ease of Paying Taxes Act, on the other hand, seeks to pave way for administrative reforms that would simplify tax compliance and strengthen tax payers rights by amending provisions of the the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.

Public-Private Partnerships Act

Once enacted into law, this measure is expected to increase “much-needed development” across various sectors and accelerate the delivery of public services in order to spur economic growth in the Philippines.

READ: Senate eyes passage of Bongbong Marcos remaining priority bills by December

Marcos enacted the bill as urgent on May 31.

“Given the growing economy, archipelagic landscape, expanding population, and rapid urbanization, the Philippines requires intensified infrastructure spending and better selected infrastructure investments to support a higher growth trajectory and improve quality of life in both urban and rural communities,” said Senator JV Ejercito in sponsoring the measure.

READ: Senate to approve 17 bills up for final reading

Among the reforms introduced in the bill include the provision of a unified legal framework for all PPP and the updating of the national PPP projects.

New Philippine Passport Act

SBN 2001 seeks to develop a “new generation of passports” that align with international standards.

It also aims to streamline the application process of the document by allowing non-appearance in the renewal of passports, especially for senior citizens and Filipino migrant workers abroad.

Other measures approved

Apart from these priority measures, the upper chamber likewise approved on third and final reading the following measures:

• House Bill No. 6128 (An act establishing in Floridablanca, Pampanga a campus to be known as Pampanga State Agricultural University-Floridablanca campus)
• House Bill No. 6552 (An act converting San Isidro satellite campus of Leyte Normal University as a regular campus)
• House Bill No. 6553 (An act converting Bataan Peninsula State University – Bagac extension campus as a regular campus)
• House Bill No. 6704 (An act establishing a college of medicine in the Benguet State University located in La Trinidad, Benguet)
• House Bill No. 7087 (An act establishing a college of medicine in the Southern Luzon State University – Main Campus)
• House Bill No. 7088 (An act establishing a college of medicine in the University of Eastern Philippines)
• House Bill No. 7090 (An act establishing a college of medicine in the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University – South La Union Campus)
• House Bill No. 7091 (An act converting the campus of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines located in the city of Parañaque into a regular campus)
• House Bill No. 7397 (An act establishing in the city of Ligao, province of Albay a college of veterinary medicine of the Bicol University)
• House Bill No. 7398 (An act establishing a college of veterinary medicine in the Southern Luzon State University – Catanauan Campus)
• House Bill No. 7412 (An act establishing a college of medicine in the Visayas State University in Baybay, Leyte)
• House Bill No. 7961 (An act strengthening the Bulacan State University, expanding its curricular offerings and the composition of the governing board)

JPV