Malacañang disclosed last week that 41 bills have lapsed into law since President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. took office on June 30, denying criticisms that he went into a veto spree of bills that await his signature.
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles explained that Marcos was "tuning" the pending bills to the "existing system."
"Tinutono lang naman ng Pangulo doon sa mga sistema iyong mga batas natin, lalung-lalo na iyong mga batas that involved some kind of tax break or tax benefits, itutono mo doon sa ating polisiya of tax reform (The President is just tuning the laws with the system, especially those involved in some kind of tax break or tax benefits, we need to align it with our policies on tax reform)," she said on August 3.
"Tandaan din po natin na ang Presidente natin ay bagong pasok so iyong mga batas na ito, noong ginagawa iyan, hindi pa po Presidente si President Marcos (Let's be reminded that our President is new in office and these laws were made before he took office). They might have been in sync with the previous administration, so mayroon talagang (it's normal to have an) adjustment period.
A day after Malacañang said this, Senate President Juan Manuel Zubiri said at least 100 bills have passed into law. Most of these are bills of local application.
Here are some of the notable bills that have lapsed into law and their Republic Act (RA) numbers, based on a document provided by Malacañang:
1. RA 11930: Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse of Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act
The law, which lapsed into law on July 30, amends the Anti-Pornography Act. It punishes the production, willful access, and intentional sharing of any form of CSAEM. Grooming, or an adult communicating with a minor online to have sexual or romantic relationships with them, or produce sexual materials, is also against the law.
Streamers of CSAEM and willful subscribers, viewers, or supporters of the said channels are also punishable under RA 11930. It covers those who sexualize children online.
The measure prompts electronic service providers and internet and financial intermediaries to block sexual materials on their platforms and preserve these contents and cooperate with law enforcers.
The bill, however, does not cover the dark web and online private conversations.
2. RA 11928: Separate Facility for Heinous Crimes Act
The law, which lapsed on July 30, seeks to ease the problem of congestion and prevent criminal activities inside the New Bilibid Prison by creating a separate penitentiary for heinous crime convicts. The facility will be in a secured and isolated place to ensure that there will be no unwarranted contact with those outside it.
3. RA 11898: Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022
The law, which lapsed on July 23, requires large corporations to process their single-use plastic packaging waste. This does not cover micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Big companies must have a proper and effective recovery, treatment, recycling, or disposal of their products after they have been sold and used by consumers.
4. RA 11900: Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act
This controversial law lapsed on July 25. It regulates the importation, manufacture, sale, packaging, distribution and use, and communication of vape and novel tobacco products but lowers the age access to them from 21 to 18.
The measure tasks the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to set technical standards for the vape products' safety, consistency, and quality. Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) is mandated to come up with guidelines on the implementation of smoking and vaping restriction awareness campaigns.
5. RA 11909: Permanent Validity of the Certificates of Live Birth, Death, and Marriage Act
The law, which lapsed on July 28, officially grants permanent validity of birth, death, and marriage certificates, regardless of their date of issuance. The law compels all government and private offices to recognize and accept all three certificates should they require their submission as proof of one's identity and legal status. Prior to this, government and private offices require applicants to present any of the three documents obtained within six months before the submission.
Here are the rest of the 41 lapsed laws:
6. RA 11933: Sicogon Island Wildlife and Sanctuary Act (Lapsed on July 30, 2022)
7. RA 11932: Creating the Metropolitan Baguio City, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay Development Authority (Lapsed on July 30, 2022)
8. RA 11931: Radio City Telephone Company, Inc. (RACITELCO) Franchise (Lapsed on July 30, 2022)
9. RA 11929: Charter of the Baliwag City (Lapsed on July 30, 2022)
10. RA 11927: Philippine Digital Workforce Competitiveness Act (Lapsed on July 30, 2022) guarantees benefits to those working in jobs created by digital technologies.
11. RA 11926: Penalizing Willful and Indiscriminate Discharge of Firearms (Lapsed on July 30, 2022) provides a penalty of arresto mayor to those who willfully and indiscriminately discharge firearms, while security forces may be charged administratively.
12. RA 11925: Barangay Naibuan, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro (Lapsed on July 30, 2022)
13. RA 11924: Barangay Poblacion B, M'lang, South Cotabato (Lapsed on July 30, 2022)
14. RA 11923: Barangay Tulalian, Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte (Lapsed on July 30, 2022)
15. RA 11922: Barangay Tagukon, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental (Lapsed on July 30, 2022)
16. RA 11921: Barangay Songkoy, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte (Lapsed on July 30, 2022)
17. RA 11920: Barangay Pangaylanip, Santiago, Agusan del Norte (Lapsed on July 30, 2022)
18. RA 11919: Barangay Panacan-2, Narra, Palawan (Lapsed on July 30, 2022)
19. RA 11918: More Electric and Power Corporation Franchise (Lapsed on July 30, 2022)
20. RA 11917: Private Security Services Industry Act (Lapsed on July 30, 2022) guarantees the professionalization of security guards and requires private security agencies to undergo registration and licensing.
21. RA 11916: Increasing the Social Pension of Indigent Senior Citizens (Lapsed on July 30, 2022) increases the monthly pension of indigent senior citizens from P500 to P1,000.
22. RA 11915: National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) Act (Lapsed on July 30, 2022) institutionalized the NAMCYA that will establish a training program for music leaders, experts, and teachers to cultivate the highest standard of musical training for the youth.
23. RA 11914: Provincial Science and Technology Office Act (Lapsed on July 30, 2022)
24. RA 11913: National Youth Day Act (Lapsed on July 30, 2022)
25. RA 11912: Establishing a Multi-Species Marine Hatchery in Bagac, Bataan (Lapsed on July 29, 2022)
26. RA 11911: Establishing a Mangrove Crab Hatchery in Barangay Geratag, San Jose, Northern Samar (Lapsed on July 29, 2022)
27. RA 11910: Summer Youth Camp Act (Lapsed on July 28, 2022)
28. RA 11908: The Parent Effectiveness Service Program Act (Lapsed on July 28, 2022)
29. RA 11907: Oro Broadcasting Network, Inc. Franchise (Lapsed on July 28, 2022)
30. RA 11906: Barangay Crossing, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte (Lapsed on July 29, 2022)
31. RA 11905: Barangay Batucan in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur (Lapsed on July 29, 2022)
32. RA 11904: Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (Lapsed on July 28, 2022)
33. RA 11903: Creating Barangay Doña Maxima in San Luis, Agusan del Sur (Lapsed on July 28, 2022)
34. RA 11902: Creating Barangays Acma-Mariano Badelles, Sr., San Roque, Luinab, Upper Hinaplanon, and Ubaldo Laya, Iligan Province (Lapsed on July 28, 2022)
35. RA 11901: The Agriculture, Fisheries, and Rural Development Financing Enhancement Act of 2022 (Lapsed on July 28, 2022)
36. RA 11899: Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) Act (Lapsed on July 23, 2022)
37. RA 11897: National Baptist Day Act (Lapsed on July 23, 2022)
38. RA 11893: LTO District Office in San Jose, Nueva Ecija (EDCOM II) Act (Lapsed on July 1, 2022)
39. Dividing Barangay Muzon in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan into Four (4) Independent Brangays
40. Establishing a Multi-Species Marine Hatchery in Tibiao, Antique
41. Unicorn Communications Corporation Telecommunications Franchise