CONGRESS resumes its sessions on Monday with the House of Representatives nearly finished with passing all priority bills identified by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., his Cabinet, and lawmakers in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
“We are almost done with the priority bills agreed upon by Congress and the executive branch. We have approved on final reading all but four of the 57 measures in the LEDAC list,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said.
He said another measure in the list would be passed on third and final reading, leaving only three awaiting final approval.
The measure, denominated as House Bill (HB) No. 9713, is entitled, “An Act institutionalizing a Philippine self-reliant defense posture program and promoting the development of a national defense industry pursuant thereto.”
Speaker Romualdez said the country should have a credible defense program and industry so it would not be totally dependent on foreign allies and suppliers for its defense requirements.
“We have accomplished our mission as lawmakers by acting promptly on the legislative agenda of President Marcos, which is focused on sustaining economic growth, helping the poor and vulnerable sectors, creating jobs and income opportunities, and in general, making life better for every Filipino,” he said.
The three LEDAC measures awaiting final approval are: amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, which is under technical working group finalization; and Budget Modernization Bill, and National Defense Act, which are under committee consideration.
Another proposed law, which is a House priority, is scheduled to be finally passed: HB No. 9571, titled, “An Act prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons, providing for their destruction, and imposing penalties for violations thereof.”
Eleven other bills, which the House has considered as among its priorities, are in various stages of plenary and committee deliberation.
“We will await Senate action on proposed laws that we have approved on third and final reading, and we will be ready to sit with senators in bicameral conferences to come up with the final versions,” Speaker Romualdez said.
He said the people are now starting to reap the benefits of the LEDAC-endorsed measures approved by Congress and signed into law by the President.
“We will continue to provide legislative support to the Marcos administration and help it, principally by means of legislation, tackle the challenges the nation and the economy will face in the years ahead,” he said.
The leader of the 300-plus-strong House cited the P5.768-trillion 2024 national budget among the priority measures the President has signed into law.
He said the national budget is the most important piece of legislation Congress passes and the President signs each year.
“It is our tool and guidepost for the nation’s progress and development. It is the source of funds for roads, bridges, expressways, school buildings, airports, seaports, hospitals and other medical facilities, and other infrastructure,” he said.
It is the source of assistance for the poor, near poor, jobless, underemployed, elderly, individuals in crisis situation, jeepney drivers, indigent students, the sick, and other persons needing help from government, Speaker Romualdez said.
The 11 LEDAC bills the President has signed into law are SIM Registration Act, postponement of barangay/Sangguniang Kabataan elections, strengthening professionalism in the AFP, New Agrarian Reform Emancipation Act, Maharlika Investment Fund Act, regional specialty hospitals, national employment recovery strategy/Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, LGU Income Classification Act, Internet Transaction Act/E-Commerce Law, amendments to the BOT Law/PPP Bill, and Ease of Paying Taxes Act.
Conference committee reports on four other LEDAC bills have been ratified by the House and the Senate.
The bills contained in these reports are: New Passport Act, revitalizing the salt industry bill, Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, and Tatak Pinoy (Proudly Filipino) Act.
Two more measures will undergo the bicameral conference process: amendments to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act and Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System Act.
Some 36 LEDAC bills have been approved on third and final reading, including Virology Institute of the Philippines, Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act, National Disease Prevention Management Authority, Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team Act, Waste-to-Energy Bill, Free Legal Assistance for Police and Soldiers;
Apprenticeship Law, Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, Valuation Reform Bill, Eastern Visayas Development Authority, Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone, Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery, Instituting a National Citizens Service Training (NCST) Program, Negros Island Region, National Government Rightsizing Program, Amendments to the Universal Health Care Act;
Comprehensive Infrastructure Development Master Plan, National Land Use Act, Philippine Immigration Act, Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming Act, Amendments to the Bank Deposits Secrecy Law, Enabling Law for the Natural Gas Industry, Excise Tax on Single-Use Plastics, Amendments to the Fisheries Code, VAT on Digital Services, Philippine Maritime Zones Act;
Open Access in Data Transmission Act, Amendments to the Right-of-Way Act, Military and Uniformed Personnel Pension Reform Bill, Rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime, Blue Economy Act, Amendments to the Government Procurement Reform Act, New Government Auditing Code, Department of Water Resources and Services, and amendments to the Cooperative Code.
Dumagats to DENR: Make us stewards of Marikina Watershed
WHY entrust the watershed to a construction company when we are in the best position to protect the place from where we depend on our livelihood? In what appears to be an earnest contribution to the government’s effort in protecting what is left of the Upper Marikina River Protected Landscape (UMRPL), the Dumagat-Remontado tribal groups offered to serve as environmental stewards to prevent the degradation of the area. In an interview, Enrico Vertudez in his capacity as chairman of the Kaksaan Ne Dumaguet De Antipolo, a government-recognized Indigenous People’s Organization representing seven Dumagat-Remontado tribal groups living at the upland areas encompassing the Marilaque Highway in Rizal province, called on the DENR to seriously consider designating IPs for stewardship of the protected landscape. “Kung meron may malasakit dito sa kabundukan, kaming mga katutubo iyon kasi dito na kami namulat at dito rin ang kabuhayan namin… hindi kung sino-sino lang,” Vertudez said. He however declined to elaborate details. In a separate interview, tribal chieftain Alex Bendaña of Barangay San Ysiro expressed disappointment over what he claimed “could be a conspiracy” behind the issuance of DENR clearances which allowed the construction of big structures well within the government protected area. He also appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to call for an investigation regarding the issuance of DENR clearances to businessmen at foreign nationals claiming ownership over parts of the UMRPL. Meanwhile, Environment Legal Affairs Service Director Norlito Eneran, said that they have already made a recommendation to Environment Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga to cancel the 2017 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) entered into by the late DENR Secretary Gina Lopez with the Blue Star Construction and Development Corporation (later renamed as Masungi Georeserve). Eneran said that the 2017 deal “for the conservation of 2,700 hectares of forested land in Rizal” could not possibly supersede existing laws protecting the local indigenous people belonging to the Dumagat-Remontado tribe from being evicted “in the name of reforestation.” In pushing for the cancellation of the MOA, Eneran hinted at the provisions of the agreement as unconstitutional. “We have already submitted our report. We found out that there is indeed a violation of the provision of the 1987 Constitution on the period of the 2017 MOA,” Eneran told the House Committee on Natural Resources, investigating alleged unauthorized and unlawful activities at the Masungi Georeserve. “There is already a recommendation for the cancellation of the 2017 MOA,” he added, noting that the sitting DENR chief has the authority to unilaterally cancel the contract. The agreement states that the project shall be constituted as a “perpetual land trust for conservation subject to law” and that “Masungi will be trustee and shall continue to so for as long as there is no neglect or violation of the agreement.” Even the Department of Justice believes that the MOA between Gina Lopez (in her capacity then as DENR Secretary) and Masungi is illegal. “The Department of Justice has already made a formal opinion – that this contract of 99 years is unconstitutional,” Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said.
