SPEAKER Martin Romualdez yesterday reported to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) that 27 out of 28 measures under its Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) have been approved by the House of Representatives in the 19th Congress.
Romualdez said only the measure proposing amendments to the Agrarian Reform law remains pending in the lower chamber.
“As of today (Thursday), we have acted on 27 out of the 28 LEDAC priority bills – a near 100 percent accomplishment rate,” Romualdez told President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Senate President Francis Escudero, members of the Cabinet, and key House leaders who attended the 8th LEDAC meeting at Malacañang.
All the 28 LEDAC-approved measures are targeted for passage before the end of the third and final Regular Session of the 19th Congress, which is set to adjourn sine die next month.
“This milestone reflects the House’s unwavering commitment to President Marcos’ call for legislative action that makes a difference in the lives of ordinary Filipinos. These are not just bills – they are real solutions to real problems,” said Romualdez, who is vying to retain his hold on the House leadership in the 20th Congress.
“Mr. President, since the beginning, the House of Representatives has remained steadfast in its efforts towards the passage of the identified LEDAC CLA priority measures,” the Speaker said. “As Congress resumes session on June 2, rest assured of our unwavering commitment to enacting key legislation that will bring tangible improvements in the lives of the Filipino people.”
A status report showed that the 12 bills that Marcos has signed into law from the 27 LEDAC measures are the New Government Procurement Reform Act, Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act, Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, Value-Added Tax (VAT) on Digital Transactions, Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program Act, Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act, Philippine Maritime Zones Act, Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, CREATE More, Enterprise-Based Education and Training Framework Act, and amendments to the Agricultural Tariffication Act.
The bill on the proposed amendments to EPIRA lapsed into law last April 18, while the proposed Capital Markets Promotion Act was sent to the Office of the President last April 29.
The following bills are still under bicameral conference committee deliberation: Blue Economy Act, amendments to the Universal Health Care Act, Open Access in Data Transmission Act, E-Governance Act, Rationalization of Mining Fiscal Regime, and Foreign Investors’ Long Term Lease amendments.
On the other hand, the House has approved on third and final reading and transmitted to the Senate the proposed National Water Resources Act, amendments to the Right-of-Way Act, National Citizens Service Training Program Act, Military and Uniformed Personnel Pension System Act, Water Treatment Technology Act, Single-use Plastic Bags Tax Act, revised Government Auditing Act, and Immigration Modernization Act.
From a total of 64 LEDAC measures since the opening of the 19th Congress, the House was able to approve 61 bills. The remaining three are the National Defense Act, Budget Modernization bill and the proposed amendments to the Agrarian Reform Law.
Meanwhile, Senate President Francis Escudero said Congress still has to approve 12 important legislations as discussed during yesterday’s LEDAC meeting.
These are amendments to the Foreign Investors’ Long-Term Lease Act, the E-Governance Act, Open Access in Data Transmission (Konektadong Pinoy Act), Rationalization of the Fiscal Mining Regime, amendments to the Universal Health Care Act, creation of the Virology Institute of the Philippines, Government Optimization Act, amendments to the Right-of-Way Act, Setting of the Term of Office of Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan, Judicial Fiscal Autonomy, Denatured Alcohol Tax, and the Anti-POGO Act.
“With only six sessions days before the sine die adjournment, it is imperative for the Senate and the House of Representatives to prioritize the passage of these measures, consistent also with the administration’s thrust to align our government with the people’s needs and expectations,” Escudero said.
Apart from the approval of bills, Escudero also cited the need to act on over 200 presidential appointments, including three Cabinet secretaries, four constitutional commission officials, 39 foreign service officers, and 277 officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. – With Raymond Africa
