Belmonte: Legislative Priorities for 3rd Regular Session Set

(PNA) — The efforts for lasting and genuine peace in the country with the end goal of achieving sustained and inclusive growth continue to top the agenda for the 3rd regular session, according to House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.

“The Bangsamoro Basic Law is now on second reading and being fine-tuned to ensure greater inclusiveness and greater efficiency in practice,” Belmonte said. “We want to ensure a more meaningful autonomy while likewise paving the way towards a more effective provision of vital services to our people. We want a peace that is lasting and sustainable.”

During a briefing with media on the status of priority measures for the 3rd and last regular session of the 16th Congress, the Speaker spoke of the expected work at hand after the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27, as both chambers of Congress wrestle with time to craft and pass significant and responsive measures in their common list of legislative priorities.

To date, the proposed “Act providing for the Basic Law for the Bangsamoro and abolishing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao” is in the period of interpellation in the House of Representatives’ plenary, while a similar measure is still under committee consideration in the Senate.

The wide ranging list of priorities includes bills related to, among others, the following areas of concern: 1) economic development and trade; 2) national security, public order and safety; 3) promotion of good governance; 4)revitalizing education for a more competitive human resources; 5) enhancement of social protection; 6) expanding access to health to achieve higher productivity; 7) unleashing land productivity; 8) sustainable energy; 9) climate change adaptation; and 10) peace.

On the realm of economic development and trade, the Speaker credited his colleagues for the enactment of the liberalized entry and scope of operations of foreign banks in the Philippines (RA 10641), the amendments to the Lemon Law (RA 10642) and the extension of the corporate life of the Philippine National Railways (RA 10638).

Likewise, congress has transmitted to the President for his signature the proposed amendments to the Cabotage law and the long-awaited Philippine Fair Competition Act or the Anti-Trust Act.

The Speaker’s pet-initiative to ease the restrictive economic provisions in the constitution, by inserting the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law”, is now awaiting final passage come 3rd regular session of Congress.

The House also approved on third reading the following: 1) providing for the establishment of the No Calls and No Text Registration System; 2) the provision of a centralized accounting of all tax incentives granted by investment promotion agencies and other government agencies (for Bicam); 3) Acquisition of right of Way of Government Infrastructure Projects; 4) and the establishment of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Hub in every legislative District.

The amendments to the Build-Operate-Transfer Law has been approved by the Committee on Public Works and Highways and referred to the Appropriations panel for its funding provision. The proposed Rationalization of Fiscal Incentives is undergoing refinement by a Technical Working Group (TWG), like the proposed grant of broader protection to consumers by amending the Consumer Act.

While the proposed amendments to the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act is undergoing the period of interpellations in plenary, the proposed Rationalization of the Mining Revenue or Excise Tax on Mining awaits approval at the committee level.

On the level of national security, public order and safety, Belmonte noted the enactment of R.A. 10639 – Mandating Telecommunications Service providers to send free mobile alerts in the event of natural and man-made disasters and calamities, R.A. 10640 – Strengthening the Anti-Illegal Drugs Law, and Joint Resolution No. 5 – the AFP Subsistence Allowance.

The proposed and equally vital measure establishing the Archipelagic Sea Lanes in Philippines Waters to rationalize the passage of ships and ensures the safety and security of navigation within these waters has been approved and transmitted to the Senate.

Also approved at Committee level are the following priority bills: 1) the Whistle Blowers Protection Act; 2) the Amendments to the Witness Protection Act; and the measure seeking to introduce structural and institutional reforms in the 74-year old Immigration Act.

On the persistent efforts to achieve good governance are fifteen (15) bills including three that are now laws – R.A 10635 or the Amendments to the MARINA Charter; R.A. 10644 or the so-called Go Negosyo program; and R.A. 10660 which amended the Sandiganbayan Law. Under Bicam consideration is the Act Rationalizing and Strengthening The Probation System.

Furthermore, notable of those passed on 3rd reading are: 1) Increasing the Prescriptive period from 15 years to 30 years/20 years for the violation of R.A. 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; and 2) the Act promoting Micro-Enterprise Development; and 3) the sought for Freedom of Information Act which is awaiting second reading passage.

Approved by their mother committees and referred to the Appropriations panel for their funding provisions are: the proposed Land Administration Reform bill; the Regulation of Water Utilities; National Food Authority Reform Act; and the proposed creation of the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

Awaiting final Committee Approval are: 1) Barangay Officials Welfare and Incentives Act; 2) Amendments to the BSP Charter; and the 3) Sangguniang Kabataan Reform bill. Still under committee deliberation is the bill establishing the emergency Management Agency, separate from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, allocates quick response and calamity funds for local emergency management offices.

Relative to human resource development through education, Belmonte noted the enactment of R.A. 10647 or the Ladderized Education Program (post secondary), R.A. 10648 or the Iskolar ng Bayan Act, and R.A. 10650 or the Open Learning through Distance Education in Post Secondary and Tertiary Levels Act. Awaiting the President’s Signature is the proposed Act providing for an Open High School System for out of school youth. Under Bicam consideration is the proposed Unified Student Financial Assistance for Higher and Technical Center.

Approved on 3rd reading and pending in the Senate are: 1) Special Education Center; 2) Establishment of a Voluntary Student Loan System; and 3) the National Identification System.

To enhance social protection are the following: RA 10645 – Providing for the mandatory PhilHealth coverage for all senior citizens; RA 10653 – 13th month Tax Exemption; and RA 10655 or the Premature Marriages Act.

To correct the provisions earlier vetoed by the President are two bills approved on 3rd reading – Protecting the Rights of internally displaced persons and penalizing the Act of arbitrary internal displacement; and the Magna Carta for the Poor. Under TWG is the proposed restructuring and decreasing the income taxes imposed on individuals and corporations (Income Tax Bracket Adjustment).

On the matter of expanding access to health to achieve higher productivity is the enactment of RA 10643 or the Picture Based Health Warning Act, as complemented by the 3rd reading approval of the proposed Healthcare Services Price Disclosure Act and the HIV and AIDS Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support, and establishing the Philippine National HIV and AIDS program.

Related to the vital concern of unleashing land productivity is the approval on 3rd reading of the proposed National Land Use Policy and the bill defining what constitutes forestlands, providing guidelines in determining specific limits of forest lands.

Promoting the very important energy sector, the House Committee on Energy is deliberating on the proposed amendments to the EPIRA Law and the proposed Energy Efficiency and Conservation Policy, among other energy-related bills pending with the panel.

Also in the legislative pipeline is the enactment of the amendments to the country’s Fisheries Code which gives focus on issue related to climate change adaptation.

Other significant measures enacted into law are RA 10637 – Granting Cotabato Light & Power Company, a Franchise to construct, install, establish, operate and maintain a distribution system, and RA 10646 – Creating the Quezon City Development Authority, among others. (PNA) CTB/PR/EBP