House appropriations chairman vows to help pass 9 pending LEDAC bills
Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co (Facebook)
House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co has committed to help the chamber pass the nine remaining Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) measures "I am fully committed to working hand-in-hand with my fellow lawmakers and stakeholders to ensure the timely passage of the priority legislation by the end of the year," Co said in a statement Monday, July 24. "Recognizing the urgency and significance of these bills, I pledge to actively participate in legislative discussions, build consensus, and advocate for the adoption of these crucial measures," he said. House Speaker Martin Romualdez had earlier said that the nine remaining LEDAC bills in the House of Representatives are the proposed Natural Gas Industry Enabling Law; Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System Bill; National Employment Action Plan; Department of Water Services and Resources; amendments to the Electric Power Industry Act; Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act; Budget Modernization; National Defense Act; and Unified System of Separation, Retirement and Pension for Uniformed Personnel. If and when the House of Representatives pass these nine bills on third and final reading, then they will have passed all 44 priority bills of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos under LEDAC. "With this expression of full support, I assure the Filipino people that I will work tirelessly with my colleagues in Congress to advance these priority bills and promote the best interests of the nation," reiterated Co. Co is on his second term as a congressman. Some of the pending LEDAC bills may have appropriations provisions, meaning these will have to go through the appropriations panel led by Co.