In a significant development, the 2nd Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting held on Tuesday saw the approval of 20 crucial legislative measures. The meeting, presided over by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at Malacañan Palace, aimed to secure legislative approval before the year comes to a close.
Among the notable measures given the green light are the Amendments of the BOT Law/PPP bill, National Disease Prevention Management Authority, Internet Transactions Act/E-Commerce Law, Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team (Heart) Act (previously known as the Medical Reserve Corps), Virology Institute of the Philippines, Mandatory ROTC and NSTP, Revitalizing the Salt Industry, Valuation Reform, E-Government/E-Governance, and Ease of Paying Taxes.
Efforts are also underway to pass several bills by the end of this year. These include the National Government Rightsizing Program, Unified System of Separation/Retirement and Pension of MUPs, LGU Income Classification, Waste-to-Energy bill, New Philippine Passport Act, Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, National Employment Action Plan, Amendments to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act, and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas-endorsed Bank Deposit Secrecy, and Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA) bills.
Out of the 20 bills approved, 18 were part of the 42 priority legislative measures discussed during the first LEDAC meeting in October 2022.
In the previous LEDAC session, three bills, namely RA 11934 (An Act Requiring the Registration of Subscriber Identity Module), RA 11935 (the Postponement of Brgy./SK elections), and RA 11939 (Amendment to AFP Fixed Term), had been signed into law. Three more bills, RA HB 6608 (Maharlika Investment Fund Act), HB 7751 (Department of Health Specialty Centers Act), and HB 6336 (New Agrarian Emancipation Act), are awaiting the President’s signature.
The remaining priority measures encompass a wide range of issues, including the Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act (PIFITA), National Land Use Act (NALUA), Enabling Law for the Natural Gas Industry, Apprenticeship Law, Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS), Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE), Free Legal Assistance for Police and Soldiers, Negros Island Region, Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone, Eastern Visayas Development Authority, Philippine Immigration Bill, Comprehensive Infrastructure Development Master Plan, and Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers.
Five bills are currently progressing through the legislative process: Budget Modernization Bill, Amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, Department of Water Resources, National Defense Act, and Amendments to the Universal Healthcare Act.
Speaker Ferdinand Romualdez reported that out of the 36 remaining priority measures from the first LEDAC, the House of Representatives has successfully passed 32 measures on the third and final reading.
In addition to the SONA priority bills, several other legislative measures are being proposed for inclusion in the common legislative agenda (CLA).
As mandated by Republic Act No. 7640, LEDAC fulfills its role as a consultative and advisory body to the President regarding crucial programs and policies necessary for the realization of national economic goals.
The common legislative agenda (CLA) represents a collaborative list of priority legislative measures agreed upon by the Executive and Legislative branches of the government, which the Council actively seeks to pass in Congress.