Anti-age discrimination bill, 28 other measures lapse into law 

At least 29 bills submitted by Congress to Malacañang have lapsed into law last month, including the Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act and Anti-Distracted Driving Act.

Republic Act (RA) 10911 or the Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act prohibits the discrimination against any individual in employment based on their age.

Under the law, it shall be unlawful for an employer to decline an employment application, and impose early retirement on the basis of such employee’s or worker’s age, among others.

Violation of the said law shall be punished with a fine of P50,000 but not more than P500,000, or imprisonment of not less than three months but not more than two years, or both, at the discretion of the court.

RA 10913 or the Anti-Distracted Driving Act meanwhile prohibits drivers from using their mobile devices to receive calls, write text messages or use their phones to surf the internet, play games and other similar acts.

Exempted from the law are motorists using their phones for emergency purposes, and those who use their communications devices while operating emergency vehicles.

The said law states that violators will be slapped with a fine of P5,000 for the first offense, P10,000 for the second offense, and P15,000 and suspension of driver’s license for three months for the third offense.

Article VI, Section 27 of the Constitution states that “the President shall communicate his veto of any bill to the House where it originated within thirty days after the date of receipt thereof; otherwise, it shall become a law as if he had signed it.”

The 29 bills below were submitted during the term of former President Benigno Aquino III, which ended on June 30:

(1) Republic Act (RA) 10870: Philippine Credit Card Industry Regulation Law

(2) RA 10871: Basic Life Support Training in Schools Act

(3) RA 10872: An Act Separating the Cagasat National High School-Magsaysay Annex in Barangay Magsaysay, Municipality of Cordon, Province of Isabela from the Cagasat National High School, converting it into an independent national high school to be known as Cordon National High School 

(4) RA 10875: An Act Establishing a National Science and Technology High School in Barangay San Jose, City of Antipolo, province of Rizal to be known as Antipolo City National Science and Technology High School and appropriating funds therefor

(5) RA 10876: An Act Separating the Kalinga National High School - Ambato Tinglayan Annex in Barangay Ambato-Legleg, municipality of Tinglayan, province of Kalinga from the Kalinga National High School, converting it into an independent national high school to be known as Tinglayan National High School and appropriating funds therefor

(6) RA 10877: An Act Separating the Gov. Alfredo Abueg Sr. National Technology and Vocational Memorial High School-Aribungos Extension in Barangay Aribungos, municipality of Brooke’s Point, province of Palawan from the Gov. Alfredo Abueg Sr. National Technology and Vocational Memorial High School, converting it into an independent national high school to be known as Inil U. Taha National High School 

(7) RA 10878: An Act Strengthening and Institutionalizing Direct Credit Support of the Land Bank of the Philippines to agrarian reform beneficiaries, small famers and fisherfolk, further amending RA No. 3844, otherwise known as the “Agricultural Land Reform Code”, as amended

(8) RA 10879: MIMAROPA Act

(9) RA 10880: An Act creating an additional branch of the Regional Trial Court with seat at Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro in the fourth judicial region, further amending for the purpose Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as “The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980”

(10) RA 10881: An Act amending investment restrictions in specific laws governing adjustment companies, lending companies, financing companies and invesment houses cited in the Foreign Investment Negative List and for other purposes

(11) RA 10882: AFP Derivative Retirement Pension for Children/Survivors Act of 2016

(12) RA 10883: New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016

(13) RA 10884: Balanced Housing Development Program Amendments

(14) RA 10905: An Act requiring all franchise holders or operators of television stations and producers of television programs to broadcast or present their programs with closed captions option, and for other purposes

(15) RA 10906: Anti-Mail Order Spouse Act

(16) RA 10907: Camiguin Tourism Development Act

(17) RA 10908: Integrated History Act of 2016

(18) RA 10909: No Shortchanging Act of 2016

(19) RA 10910: An Act increasing the prescriptive period for violations of RA No. 3019, otherwise known as the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act”, from 15 years to 20 years, amending Section 11 thereof

(20) RA 10911: Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act

(21) RA 10912: Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016

(22) RA 10913: Anti-Distracted Driving Act

(23) RA 10914: An Act Granting Philippine Citizenship to Hans-Peter Smit

(24) RA 10915: Philippine Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Act of 2016

(25) RA 10916: Road Speed Limiter Act of 2016

(26) RA 10917: An Act amending certain provisions of RA No. 9547, otherwise known as An Act strengthening and expanding the coverage of the special program for employment of students, amending for the purpose provisions of RA No. 7323, otherwise known as the Special Program for Employment of Students

(27) RA 10918: Philippine Pharmacy Act

(28) RA 10919: University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines Act

(29) RA 10922: Economic and Financial Literacy Act

— VVP, GMA News