PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte admitted Thursday, February 14, that he remains hesistant about signing the expanded maternity leave and rice tariffication bills.
The two bills are expected to lapse into law this week if Duterte does not act on the proposed measures.
Speaking to reporters, Duterte said he still has time to review "overnight" the provisions of the expanded maternity bill, which lapses into law on Thursday.
The President said his review was prompted by request of Taguig Representative Pia Cayetano.
"Meron dito 'yung ayaw pahabaan. Meron gusto pahabaan (Some do not want to extend it. Some want to extend it). I would -- Pia asked me to deliberate on tonight. Papa-hanap ko pa nga (I will check it)," he said on the sidelines of the proclamation rally of his political party held in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
"Hindi pa [ito mag-lapse into law]. Pag wala pang alas dose, I still have control. Or even the date. Pero huwag naman iyang tatlo, apat na araw. Just overnight. You cannot expect me to be superhuman," he added.
(It has yet to lapse into law. It's not yet 12 midnight. I still have control. Or even the date. But it would not take three, four days. Just overnight. You cannot expect me to be superhuman.)
Under the proposed expanded maternity leave, working women will enjoy 105 days of maternity leave credits with full pay and an option to extend it for another 30 days without pay.
Meantime, Duterte said it would be "better" if the rice tariffication bill would lapse into law.
The President made the remark as he admitted that it seemed difficult to get the support of rice industry stakeholders.
"Mabuti mag-lapse siya (It's better if it would lapse into law)," he said, referring to the rice tariffication bill.
"Ganito (This is the case). I have 6,000. Government needs 6,000 signatures. And ngayon maghabol ako (And I still have to get it)," he added.
His statement came after various local rice industry groups earlier called on him to veto certain provisions of the rice tariffication bill.
The groups raised concern that the bill would affect the farmers' livelihood and availaility of rice for poor consumers.
Under the rice tariffication bill, a 25-percent duty will be imposed on rice imports from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member-states, while a 50-percent rate will apply to imports from non-members of the regional bloc.
The measure also seeks to create the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund or a special rice buffer fund with an initial P10-billion annual fund to boost rice production competitiveness.
The rice tariffication bill would lapse into law on February 15 if it remains unsigned by Duterte. (SunStar Philippines)