MANILA -- Both houses of Congress are on track for the December passage of the 20 priority measures requested by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. including the General Appropriations Bill, congressional leaders said on Wednesday following the Third Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) Meeting in Malacañang Wednesday.

The Senate has finished about half of the 20 priority legislations requested by the President for a December passage, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said following the LEDAC meeting.

“Nung last LEDAC meeting natin, the second LEDAC meeting, may mga 20 na panukala na hinihingi po ng ating Pangulo before the end of the year,” said in an interview after the LEDAC meeting with President Marcos and other members of Congress.

“And we are happy to announce na halos kalahati ay natapos na rin namin sa Senado. Magiging batas na po siya and those that are pending na magiging batas within the next few weeks, and hopefully the President will be able to sign it.”

The 20 bills identified as priority measures for passage by end of December 2023 include the National Employment Action Plan; LGU Income Classification, Internet Transaction Act, BOT/PPP Act, Salt Industry Development Act, Ease of Paying Taxes, Real Property Evaluation and Assessment Reform Act, Magna Carta for Seafarers, and Anti-Agriculture Smuggling Act.

Other measures are the Waste-to-Energy Bill, National Disease Prevention Management Authority, Amendments to the Banking Act or the Fund Secrecy Law, Medical Reserve Corps, Virology Institute of the Philippines, E-Governance Act, New Philippine Passport Act, the National Government Rightsizing Act, the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA), the National Citizens Service Training Program Act and the Military and Uniformed Personnel Pension System Act.

“Ang ganda po ng legislative agenda ng Pangulo and we will pass this as soon as possible time. Pinakamatagal na end of the year, which is this December, kasama po ng kanyang General Appropriations Act,” Zubiri said, adding the President wants the quick passage of the legislative measures that they committed.

The administration’s economic team also has additional legislation, which will be supported by the Senate, he said, highlighting the President’s commitment to help the Filipino people.

For his part, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said the House of Representatives reported to the President that 18 out of the 20 legislations to be passed by year-end had already been approved by the Lower House.

“At bago tayo magbe-break, tatapusin natin ‘yung buo, ‘yung lahat na bente na priority LEDAC measures. At the end of September or three months in advance of the prescribed deadline na nag-agree tayo ni Senate President at ni Presidente,” Romualdez said.

“At siyempre naman kasama din diyan ang ating General Appropriations bill that we shall also finish sa third and final reading by Wednesday next week. So again, three days ahead of schedule before we go on break.”

In terms of the 17 State Of the Nation Address (SONA) measures enumerated by the President, the House Speaker said seven out of the 17 have been passed on third and final reading, noting they assured the President that the House of Representatives will pass all those measures by December.

“Kaya lahat po ‘yan ita-transmit natin sa ating mga kapatid sa Senado para sila rin ay makakapasa din ng lahat ng priority measures. Lahat itong mga measures, all of these bills, all of these measures ay para sa kabutihan, sa kaunlaran ng ating bayan, sa kabutihan at kalusugan ng ating mamamayan, at sa ekonomiya ng bayan,” Romualdez said.

Pending legislations in the Senate Committee listed in the 1st LEDAC meeting last October 10, 2022 include the Medical Reserve Corps, Virology Institute of the Philippines, E-Governance Act, E-Government Act, National Government Rightsizing Act, Free Legal Assistance for Police and Soldiers, Apprenticeship Law, Eastern Visayas Development Authority, Negros Island Region, PIFITA, National Land Use Act, Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, GUIDE Bill, Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone, Enabling Law for the Natural Gas Industry, MUP Bill, Amendments to EPIRA, Budget Reform Act, Department of Water Resources, and National Defense Act

In the Lower House, the bills pending in the Committee are Amendments to EPIRA, Budget Reform Act, Department of Water Resources and National Defense Act

Pending in 2nd reading at the Senate include the BOT/PPP Bill, Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Internet Transaction Act/ E-Commerce Law, Mandatory ROTC/NSTP, New Philippine Passport Act, Wase-to-Energy Bill, Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, and Valuable Reform Bill.

Those approved on 3rd and final reading at the Lower House are the BOT/PPP Bill, Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Internet Transaction Act/ E-Commerce Law, Mandatory ROTC/NSTP, New Philippine Passport Act, Wase-to-Energy Bill, Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, and Valuable Reform Bill, Medical Reserve Corps, Virology Institute of the Philippines, E-Governance Act, E-Government Act, National Government Rightsizing Act, Free Legal Assistance for Police and Soldiers, Apprenticeship Law, Eastern Visayas Development Authority, Negros Island Region, PIFITA, National Land Use Act, Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, GUIDE Bill, Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone, Enabling Law for the Natural Gas Industry

In the First LEDAC Execom Meeting last February 13, 2023, those approved by the Senate on 3rd reading included Revitalizing the Salt Industry, LGU Income Classification Bill, and National Employment Action Plan.

In the Lower House, legislations passed on 3rd reading are Revitalizing the Salt Industry, LGU Income Classification Bill, National Employment Action Plan, Ease of Paying Taxes, PENCAS, Comprehensive Infrastructure Development Master Plan, Philippine Immigration Bill, and Amendment to the Universal Health Care Act.

Those listed in the 2nd LEDAC Meeting on July 5, 2023, measures that are pending in the Senate committee include the Amendment to the Bank Deposits Secrecy Law, Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming Act, and Blue Economy Act. Tatak Pinoy (Proudly Pilipino Act) is also pending on 2nd reading at the Senate.

In the Lower House, those pending at the committee are Tatak Pinoy (Proudly Pilipino Act) and Blue Economy Act, while approved on 3rd Reading were the Amendment to the Bank Deposits Secrecy Law, and Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming Act. (PND)