Romualdez lauds enactment of 3 laws in education, passport services, salt industry

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez leads the groundbreaking for the construction of the 20-story Philippine Cancer Center in Quezon City on Friday, March 8, 2024. Romualdez said the facility will not just be an ordinary hospital as it is seen to redefine cancer treatment in the Philippines by integrating the latest medical advancements and fostering collaboration among specialists to provide a world-class environment for the treatment of Filipino cancer patients. (Photo courtesy of the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives)

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said on Saturday that the signing of the law which will prohibit the “no permit, no exam” policy in some schools in the Philippines will provide more equal access to education.

“By abolishing the ‘no permit, no exam’ rule, we are breaking down barriers and ensuring that every student, regardless of their financial background, has equal access to education,” Romualdez said.

READ: Anti ‘no permit, no exam’ policy now a law

“Education is a fundamental right, and it is our duty to create an environment where every student can thrive,” he added.

Republic Act (RA) 11984, or the “No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Law” will allow students of public and private K-12 institutions, higher education institutions, and technical-vocational institutions who cannot pay school fees to take their exams, while the Department of Social Welfare and Development will also certificates proving the disadvantaged status of the students.

The house speaker also said that the approval of RA 11983, or the New Philippine Passport Act, will also provide more convenience to the public when applying for their travel documents.

“By making the application process more accessible and user-friendly, we are empowering every Filipino to obtain travel documents efficiently and with minimal hassle,” Speaker Romualdez said.

The law will likewise mandate ease-of-access in passport applications for special groups such as pregnant women and disabled people, senior citizens, children under seven years old, and overseas Filipino workers, among others.

Lastly, Romualdez said that the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act will further modernize the salt sector in the country by supporting local industries.

“This legislation represents a crucial step forward in advancing the development and modernization of the salt industry in the Philippines,”  he said.

READ: Interagency brainstorming to revitalize salt industry underway

This law will develop a roadmap on which programs and projects regarding the salt industry will be based on, and a Salt Council that will decide on tax incentives for salt, among other duties.

“The ultimate goal is to facilitate sustainable production that could potentially lead to salt exportation, contributing to the country’s economic growth,” Romualdez added.