RPP Speaker tells LEDAC: House has done its homework on legislation

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Tuesday reported the House of Representatives has accomplished its task by approving on third and final reading all of the priority measures of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. and the Legislative-Executive Development Council (LEDAC).

He rendered the report to the full LEDAC meeting presided over by the President in Malacañang.

The leader of the 300-plus-strong House said his chamber is just now awaiting Senate action on several of the priority legislative proposals of the President and the LEDAC.

“The House of the People has done its homework. Our accomplishments reflect our proactive stance in catering to the needs of the people by passing these much-needed legislation that are attuned to the Philippine Development Plan and the 8-point socio-economic agenda under the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework of the President,” Speaker Romualdez said.

He said the House has approved on third and final reading last March, or three months ahead of schedule, all of the 20 priority LEDAC measures targeted for passage by the end of June 2024.

Speaker Romualdez informed the LEDAC of the status of the 20 bills: three have been enacted into law and three are undergoing enrollment process - two conference committee reports adopted by both chambers and one adopted as an amendment to the House bill.

Four bills are under deliberation by bicameral conference committees (bicam), while the 10 other measures have been approved on third and final reading by the House - some as early as September and December 2023 and four last March.

“We will await the version of the Senate for possible adoption by the House as an amendment to the House bill, or for bicameral conference committee meeting,” he said.

A House listing showed that the three latest LEDAC bills President Marcos has signed into law are the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System Act, Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act, and the Negros Island Region Act.

The two ratified bicam reports are those on proposed amendments to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act and the Government Procurement Reform Act.

Changes approved by the Senate in the House version of the Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming Act were adopted by the House.

The four measures undergoing bicam deliberation are the Philippine Defense Industry Development Act/Self-Reliant Defense Posture Act, Philippine Maritime Zones Act, Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program Act, and VAT on Digital Transactions Act.

The 10 other LEDAC priority bills the House has approved on third and final reading are the Waste Treatment Technology Act, Instituting a National Citizens Service Training Program, E-Governance Act, Open Access in Data Transmission Act, Military and Uniformed Personnel Pension Reform Bill;

Blue Economy Act, Department of Water Resources / National Water Resources Act, Enhancing Philippine Tax Incentive / CREATE MORE, Enterprise-Based Education and Training Program Act, and proposed amendments to the Universal Health Care Act.

The House report showed that of the 20 LEDAC priority measures the the larger chamber of Congress has approved on third and final reading, 10, or half, have yet to be finally passed by the Senate.

Of the 10, six are “for approval on second reading,” while the remaining four are “under TWG/committee deliberation.”

The report also showed that as of June 25, 2024, the LEDAC had 59 priority measures, 13 of which are now laws.

These are SIM Registration Act, Postponement of Barangay / SK Elections, Strengthening Professionalism in the AFP, New Agrarian Emancipation Act, Maharlika Investment Fund, Regional Specialty Hospitals, National Employment Recovery Strategy/ Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, LGU Income Classification; 

Internet Transaction Act / E-Commerce Law, Amendments to the BOT Law / PPP Bill, Ease of Paying Taxes, Tatak Pinoy (Proudly Filipino) Act, New Philippine Passport Act, Revitalizing the Salt Industry Bill, Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System, Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act, and Negros Island Region Act. (END)

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