THE Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) has included 10 bills that will be among the priority legislations of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In a meeting in Malacañang on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, the Ledac identified the following as additional priority legislation:
* Amendments to the Government Procurement Reform Act
* Excise Tax on Single-Use Plastics
* Amendments to the Cooperative Code
* Amendments to the Fisheries Code
* The New Government Auditing Code
* Rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime
* The Philippine Defense Industry Development Act
* The Philippine Maritime Zones Act
* Open Access in Data Transmission Act
* Amendments to the Right-of-Way Act
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Speaker Martin Romualdez both expressed support for the proposed measures.
“Wala po kaming nakikitang controversial. Wala po kaming nakikitang magbibigay perwisyo sa ating mga kababayan. ‘Yan ang kagandahan nitong mga Ledac meeting na ito. Nakikita po namin, ng ating Pangulo, and it is in line to help the Filipino people, lalo na sa ating mahihirap na kababayan,” said Zubiri, noting further that almost half of the 20 priority measures proposed by Marcos for passage by December were already done by the Senate.
(We don't see anything controversial. We do not see anyone who will harm our countrymen. That's the beauty of these Ledac meetings. We, our President, see it, and it is in line to help the Filipino people, especially our poor compatriots.)
For his part, Romualdez said 18 out of the 20 measures were already passed by the House of Representatives.
In terms of the 17 State of the Nation Address (Sona) measures enumerated by Marcos, the House Speaker said seven have been passed on third and final reading.
“At bago tayo magbe-break, tatapusin natin ‘yung buo, ‘yung lahat na bente na priority Ledac measures. At the end of September, or three months in advance of the prescribed deadline na nag-agree tayo ni Senate President at ni Presidente,” Romualdez said.
(And before we break, we will finish all the 20 priority Ledac measures. At the end of September, or three months in advance of the prescribed deadline that we agreed with the Senate President and the President.)
He added that the General Appropriations Bill is also being deliberated on and is expected to be approved by the Plenary next week.
The 20 bills identified as priority measures for passage by end of December 2023 include the National Employment Action Plan, Local Government Unit Income Classification, Internet Transaction Act, BOT/PPP Act, Salt Industry Development Act, Ease of Paying Taxes, Real Property Evaluation and Assessment Reform Act, Magna Carta for Seafarers, and Anti-Agriculture Smuggling Act.
Other measures 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 Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA), the National Citizens Service Training Program Act and the Military and Uniformed Personnel Pension System Act. (SunStar Philippines)
