Marcos admin's 20 priority bills on track, say Congress leaders

The Senate and the House of Representatives on Wednesday said that they are on track for the passage of the 20 priority measures of the Marcos administration.

Led by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council had a meeting in the morning at the Malacañang Palace.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said that for the part of the Senate, about half of the 20 priority measures have been approved and ready for the President's signature.

"Noong last LEDAC meeting natin, the second LEDAC meeting, may mga 20 na panukala na hinihingi po ng ating Pangulo before the end of the year,” Zubiri said.

(In our previous LEDAC meeting, there are 20 measures that are being asked by the President to be prioritized.)

“And we are happy to announce na halos kalahati ay natapos na rin namin sa Senado. Magiging batas na po siya and those that are pending na magiging batas within the next few weeks, and hopefully the President will be able to sign it," he added.

(And we are happy to announce that we already finished almost half of this. These will soon become a law and those that are pending, hopefully the President will be able to sign them.)

The priority measures include the National Employment Action Plan; LGU Income Classification, Internet Transaction Act, BOT/PPP Act, Salt Development Industry Act, Ease of Paying Taxes, Real Property Evaluation and Assessment Reform Act, Magna Carta for Seafarers, and Anti-Agriculture Smuggling Act.

Other measures included in the priority list are the Waste-to-Energy Bill, National Disease Prevention Management Authority, Amendments to the Banking Act or the Fund Secrecy Law, Medical Reserve Corps, Virology Institute of the Philippines, E-Governance Act, New Philippine Passport Act, the National Government Rightsizing Act, the National Scamming Act, the National Citizens Service Training Program Act and the Military and Uniformed Personnel Pension System Act.

Zubiri also said the General Appropriations Act was included in the priority measures that will be passed in December.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said that on the part of the House of Representatives, 18 out of the 20 priority legislations have already been approved by the lower chamber of Congress.

Under Republic Act No. 7640, LEDAC serves as a consultative and advisory body to the President on certain programs and policies essential to the realization of the goals of the national economy.—LDF, GMA Integrated News