Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said the House of Representatives, under the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez, has achieved the passage of several priority measures identified by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

Acidre, a deputy majority leader, said the House has approved measures proposed by LEDAC as well as those mentioned in last year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) by President Marcos.

“Marami doon landmark legislations, katulad ng Government Procurement Act na kasama sa Medium Term Economic Development Plan ng ating Presidente,” Acidre said in a radio interview.

(Most of them are landmark legislations, such as the Government Procurement Act included in the Medium Term Economic Development Plan of our President.)

“Lahat ng ‘yon, naipasa na ng House (The House has already passed all of those),” he added, as he noted that the lower chamber was “way ahead” of its deadlines.

The House has also passed key legislative priorities such as the Ease of Paying Taxes, Digital Internet Transaction Bill, and E-Governance Act. 

Acidre noted that House members are expecting the Auditing Code to get Marcos’ “final nod”, alongside the Magna Carta of Seafarers and Revised Government Procurement Act.

“All of these are reflective of the economic priorities of the President and also, to hopefully help improve our socio-economic standing,” he said.

With the upcoming SONA on July 22, Acidre is expecting President Marcos to give light on the priority measures for the following year.

For Speaker Romualdez, he said, inflation will remain a serious concern.

The lawmaker said the lower chamber had taken actions to combat rising prices, particularly when it prioritized amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law and the focus to improve agricultural infrastructure.

“Ang usapin ng pagtaas ng presyo (Inflation) is more complicated than it looks, especially when ipapasa natin ang supply and demand,” Acidre pointed out.

With this in mind, he said the House is also keen on hiking the minimum wage of workers.

The social amelioration program Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) is also seen as an important initiative to ensure social security for marginalized Filipinos, he said.