THE Senate has ratified four proposed legislations which Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri are envisioned to mostly benefit indigents and the elderly population.
Ratified during the chamber’s plenary session on Wednesday night were the bicameral versions of the “No Permit, No Exam” Prohibition Act, the New Philippine Passport Act, the measure proposing the expansion of the coverage of the Centenarians Act, and the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act.
Zubiri said lawmakers are hopeful that the measures would be signed into law by President Marcos Jr. before Congress takes a break for the holidays starting December 16.
The No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act prohibits private and public educational institutions from disallowing marginalized students from taking their periodic exams and final examinations pending settlement of their unpaid tuition and other fees.
It directs the municipal, city, or provincial social welfare and development officer, or the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as the case may be, to issue the necessary certificate on the disadvantaged status of the student due to calamities, emergencies, force majeure, and other justifiable reasons.
Zubiri said the objective of the measure is not to shame students just because they have not yet settled their fees.
“May rekurso naman ang ating mga paaralan kapag hindi nakabayad ang mag-aaral (Schools have a recourse if students have not yet paid their tuition and other fees). They can demand promissory notes or withhold records and credentials of students, and other legal administrative remedies,” he said.
Meanwhile, the law expanding the coverage of the Centenarians Act will benefit senior citizens by giving them financial grants even before they reach the age of 100.
Filipinos, whether residing here or abroad, upon reaching the ages of 80, 85, 90 and 95 will receive a cash gift of P10,000. They shall be eligible to receive the cash gift within one year upon reaching the mentioned ages.
Upon reaching 100, a Filipino citizen is entitled to P100,000 in financial grants and a letter of felicitation from the President of the Republic of the Philippines.
On the other hand, the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act hopes to revitalize the salt industry, especially in coastal communities, by addressing the gaps in the country’s salt industry and making it more competitive in local and international markets.
It mandates the establishment of the Philippine Salt Industry Development Roadmap that would formulate programs, projects and interventions for the development, processing, and utilization, among others, of the Philippine salt.
The new Philippine Passport Act harmonizes the existing Passport Law with recently-enacted laws, such as the Data Privacy Act, Philippine ID System, the Foundling Recognition and Protection Act, and the Department of Migrant Workers Act.
It not only provides for an issuance of an emergency passports to travelling Filipinos who lost their passports while abroad, but the issuance of a Convention Travel Document to a stateless person who is likewise a permanent resident of the Philippines or a refugee granted such status or asylum in the country, as well.
It directs the Department of Foreign Affairs to establish a passport database which will contain the applicants’ biographic data, biometric data, and demographic data; record of denials, cancellations, stolen, and lost passports.
It also institutionalizes the establishment of offsite and mobile passport services in areas outside of the consular offices and foreign service posts.
“I am confident that these measures will provide convenience, much-needed assistance, and enhanced benefits to their intended beneficiaries. These are not buzzer beaters, but products of thorough and careful study of the proposed measures for our citizens,” Zubiri said.
