Duterte to convene LEDAC over priority measures —Palace

Malacañang is set to arrange a meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte, lawmakers and other stakeholders to iron out the priority measures for the last three years of his administration.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Wednesday that the Palace plans to convene the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

“We will be scheduling it in coordination with Speaker [Alan Peter] Cayetano and Senate President [Vicente III] Sotto,” Nograles said in a text message.

Nograles’ statement comes after Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco on Tuesday asked for a LEDAC meeting in order for the executive and legislative branches to decide which bills will be prioritized so these can be enacted into laws at the soonest possible time.

As a consultative and advisory body, the LEDAC helps the President integrate his legislative agenda with Congress and gives inputs to certain programs and policies essential to the realization of the goals of the national economy.

According to the law (Republic Act 7640) that created the LEDAC, the council shall meet at least once every quarter but it may be convened by the President for special meetings as may be necessary.

Duterte has convened the advisory body at least twice during his term.

During his fourth State of the Nation Address on Monday, Duterte requested Congress to pass legislation on the postponement of the barangay elections from May 2020 to October 2022, mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps for Grades 11 and 12, rightsizing the bureaucracy, second package of tax reform program and reinstatement of the death penalty to cover heinous crimes related to illegal drugs and plunder.

He also urged the creation of new departments involving water resources management, overseas Filipino workers, and disaster resilience as well as a national academy of sports.

The President is also pushing legislation on improving the country’s defense systems and a new Salary Standardization Law that will cover the pay increases of government employees including teachers and nurses. —KG, GMA News