Senators file pet bills  days before start of 17th Congress

As the commencement of the 17th Congress nears, senators have started filing the bills on the advocacies they vowed to pursue.

Senator Grace Poe has refiled “First 1,000 Days” and “Libreng Pananghalian sa Pampublikong Paaralan” bill, which will guarantee proper sustenance and vital support for poor children.

The “First 1,000 Days” bill seeks to protect children from malnutrition from conception up to two years old, by establishing the “First 1,000 Days” maternal and child health care program in every barangay.

The program shall include nutrition and family counselling, breastfeeding of children, nutritional support for pregnant and nursing mothers, treatment of malnourished children, and other timely interventions.

The proposed “Libreng Pananghalian sa Pampublikong Paaralan” seeks to institutionalize a free nutri-meals program for children enrolled in the K-12 public schools in a bid to improve their health, attendance and academic performance.

“Hindi matututo at tatalino ang mga bata kung sila ay nagugutom. It is crucial to fight off hunger in the classroom to promote their proper learning and development,” Poe said in a press statement.

The bill provides for an initial implementation that covers students in public elementary schools including kindergarten. On the third year of implementation, coverage will include junior high school. On the fifth year, the entire K-12 students in public schools will be covered by the free lunch program.

“We look forward to having an encompassing and meaningful free lunch program that will cover all K-12 public school students nationwide, with primary focus on the wasted and severely wasted, similar to those done in other countries with great success,” the senator said.

Local government

Senator Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, filed Senate Bill 40, dubbed the Budget Reform for Village Empowerment Act of 2016, which seeks to give local government units an active role in nation building by providing them with much-needed funding for their development projects.

“By giving the LGUs the necessary wherewithal to be active participants in the development of our country, we will end the culture of mendicancy and political patronage that viciously thrive in our system. Ultimately, this will help us realize the elusive inclusive growth that we all aspire for as a nation,” he said, adding that the bill seeks to distribute funds equitably among national government agencies and LGUs.

Under the bill, a Local Development Fund (LDF) will be divided among the different political subdivisions to be used solely for developmental projects, activities and programs (PAPs).

The LDF, to be automatically and directly released to every LGU at the start of the fiscal year or quarterly within five days at the start of each quarter, includes:

• For provinces: P500 million to P1 billion each
• For cities: P100 to P200 million each
• For towns/municipalities: P50 to P100 million each
• For barangays: P3 to P5 million each

As a safeguard, no LDF shall be released without a certification from the Local Government Academy that the LGU is capacitated to plan and implement its Comprehensive Development Plans.

Neglected sectors

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito filed bills that aim to develop the country’s neglected sectors of transportation, agriculture sector, basic social services, among others.

He re-filed the proposed Philippine National Railway (PNR) Modernization Act, and the Train Protection Act that seeks to criminalize the stealing of train parts.

On boosting agriculture and infrastructure, Ejercito sought again the passage of the Watershed Protection Act, and the Agricultural Technology Generation and Transfer Act.

The senator also wants to boost the legal services for migrant workers through his proposed OFW Legal Assistance Fund. On improving basic social services and increasing the benefits of Filipino workers, he likewise sought for the passage of the Amendments on the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA Law), the Social Security System (SSS) Pension Act that proposes an across-the-board increase of 3,000 monthly pension; Tax Reform Act that focuses on a higher exemption of Income Tax, and Free Tertiary Education in all state universities and colleges which will be funded directly through the General Appropriations Act and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

Tax

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara filed a bill seeking to establish a Taxpayer Assistance Service within the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), composed of knowledgeable, competent and professional employees, to answer queries and guide taxpayers on how to efficiently and effectively deal with their tax-related problems and concerns.

His other top priority measures include bills that would lower individual income tax rates, and update and index the tax brackets to inflation.

He also filed a bill that will put in place a charter on taxpayer rights, and create a National Taxpayer Advocate Office that will promote their rights and protect them against harassment and corrupt practices of some officers and employees of the BIR and the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Fulfilling the campaign promises of his defeated father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Nancy Binay filed a bill exempting employees earning P30,000 and below from paying income taxes.

She said around six million public and private sector employees stand to gain from abolishing income taxes for those earning P30,000 a month or less.

“Sa oras na i-tax ang P30,000, may mga items sa budget ang apektado, at kailangan mag-adjust at magbawas ng gastusin sa mga basic necessities tulad ng pagkain, pambayad ng renta o bill ng kuryente o tubig, pati na rin pamasahe papuntang trabaho o school,” she said.

Binay said she will also file her electronic violence against women and children (E-VAWC) bill, meant to safeguard victims of online violence from further harm against their perpetrators who could be a close/distant relative, former spouse/partner or an ex-boyfriend/girlfriend.

Her other priority measures include increasing the amount Social Security System (SSS) pensioners receive to P3,200.00 a month for members with at least 10 credited years; the regularization of barangay officials; and granting incentives to public school teachers.

Uniformed men, education

To fulfill the campaign promise of President Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano filed a bill seeking to increase the salaries and other incentives of law enforcers in the country, particularly officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The bill aims to increase the minimum base pay and allowances of PNP personnel, allowing the lowest ranking police officer to receive a gross minimum pay of P50,530 per month, inclusive of benefits and allowances.

Neophyte Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, filed the "Free Higher Education Act."

On the other hand, the bills filed by Senator Loren Legarda promote inclusive, sustainable, and resilient development.

These are: Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, Department of Culture, Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act, Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act, National Land Use Act, Final Forest Limits Act, Amendment to the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, Department of Housing and Urban Development Act, Philippine Innovation Act, and Anti-Discrimination Act.

“My priority bills are those that espouse the advocacies that I have been known for—environmental preservation, climate change adaptation and mitigation, equitable use of our natural resources, energy efficiency, preservation of heritage and promotion of Filipino culture and arts,” Legarda said in a press statement.

She added she will work on legislation on health and education, especially to capacitate those in our local communities, as well as measures that will empower micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for sustainable livelihood.

Senator Bam Aquino, who is expected to head the Committee on Education, has filed education-related measures such as the Free Education in State Colleges and Universities (SUCs), Free Education for Children of Public School Teachers' Children, Abot Alam, and the Trabaho Center in Schools bills.

He said he will continue to push for his social entrepreneurship advocacy and is still building a robust support system for small business with the filing of bills to support Small Business Tax Reform, Startups, and Social Enterprises, among others.

OFWs

Senator Cynthia Villar, meanwhile, vowed to work for the passage of bills protecting the plight of farmers and fisherfolks, as well as the overseas Filipino workers.

She said she will prioritize the “Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Act,” or the bill which seeks to create a coconut levy trust fund for coconut farmers. Last Congress, Villar was able to sponsor the said bill under Committee Report No. 106 and it reached the period of amendments in the Senate plenary.

She also vowed to pass within the year the bill granting a P2,000 across-the-board increase in the pension of 1.9 million Social Security System members. As chairperson of the Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises, she worked for its passage by both houses of Congress but President Benigno Aquino III vetoed the bill.

The senator said she will also prioritize the creation of the department for OFWs, the Department of Migration and Development, which she believes is also supported by the new set of senators. —ALG, GMA News