The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading at least 19 of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s reported 32 priority measures under the Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
Of this figure, two were passed during plenary session Thursday night, Dec. 15, which was also the House's last session date for the year.
Given the chamber’s final nod on Thursday was House Bill (HB) No.1, or the proposed Act providing for Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE); and HB No. 6687, or An Act Instituting a National Citizens Service Training Program in all public and private tertiary education institutions, repealing for the Purpose Republic Act (RA) 9163, otherwise known as the National Service Training Program Act.
Before this, the chamber led by House Speaker Martin Romualdez--arguably Marcos's top ally in the legislature--approved on third reading a whopping 13 priority bills of the administration during Monday’s session.
These were following measures: National Disease Prevention Management Authority or Center for Disease Control and Prevention Act, Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team (HEART or formerly the Medical Reserve Corps Act), New Agrarian Emancipation Act, Philippine Passport Act, and Internet Transaction Act / E-Commerce Act.
Also approved last Dec. 12 were the Waste-to-Energy Act, Free Legal Assistance to Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) Act, Revised National Apprenticeship Progam Act, Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act, Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), Valuation Reform Bill (Package 3), Act creating the Eastern Visayas Development Authority (EVDA), and the Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone Act.
Last week, the lower chamber gave its final nod to two other measures included in the CLA of LEDAC, namely the Act creating the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines, and the Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act (PIFITA).
The two enacted measures of the Marcos administration so far--the SIM Registration Act and the Act postponing the December 2022 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), are also among the government's priority pieces of legislation.
"In addition, 37 other national bills and 128 local bills were likewise approved on third and final reading,” Romualdez, Leyte’s 1st district representative, said in his speech before his House colleagues to cap Thursday's plenary session.
The first regular session of the current 19th Congress began last June 30, when Marcos formally assumed his seat in Malacañang.
Romualdez said the numerous priority bills passed into law and approved on third and final reading “speak volumes about the outstanding dynamics of this Congress which we have all worked hard for".
“These measures are calculated to alleviate poverty, trigger economic progress, and harness competencies in government for the delivery of no less than the highest degree of service to the Filipino people,” he underscored.