(Update) Priority bills again in focus

MANILA, Philippines - Congress resumes session Monday after a month-long break, aiming to approve more of the priority measures set by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). But with the 14th Congress’ first regular session scheduled to end in June, legislators are only looking towards approval of two more bills, and have cited the earlier passage of five out of a list of eleven. Malacañang yesterday called on both chambers of Congress, particularly the Senate, to focus on developmental concerns instead of politicking. Businessmen echoed the call to approve needed legislation, particularly those that had been on the verge of being passed in the previous legislature. Of the LEDAC bills, lawmakers said the Cheaper Medicines and amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA) measures would most likely be passed before the June 13 adjournment. The former is pending at the bicameral level while the latter is up for second reading approval in both chambers. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate also plan to pass a law extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, a measure defining the country’s territory, proposals to address a rice crisis, and a bill exempting minimum wage earners from income tax. These bills — the last three in particular were sparked by current concerns — are not on the priority list. In a text message to BusinessWorld, Deputy Presidential Spokesman Lorelei C. Fajardo said the Palace wants Congress to act on the remainder of 11 measures it had vowed to pass before the December holiday break. Only five have been approved: the P1.226-trillion 2008 budget, a bill extending the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund to 2015, the Civil Aviation Authority bill, amendments to the University of the Philippines charter, and amendments to the Magna Carta for Small and Medium Scale Industries. Still pending are: * the Personal Equity Retirement Account (PERA) bill which seeks to provide people with an alternative savings plan; * a bill creating a Credit Information System which will improve the lending system; * the EPIRA amendments, which include the lowering of privatization thresholds to allow for open access and retail competition; * amendments to the Customs Brokers Act which bars corporations from engaging in customs brokerage or from hiring the services of an in-house customs broker; * the Cheaper Medicines bill which relaxes patent laws to improve access to lower priced drugs from other countries; and * concurrence with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Proclamation 1377 providing amnesty to communist rebels. Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony T. Golez, Jr., in a telephone interview, said "Our appeal [to hasten the passage of the bills] still holds. Those priority bills were laid in 2007. Because not all the priority bills were passed, we need to reinvigorate our position regarding these bills and stress their importance in our economy and our country." "This is the reason why we always remind senators to focus their energy on pressing issues that affect the country. While other countries are focusing on them, our politicians are busy politicking." Makati Business Club (MBC) Executive Director Alberto A. Lim, meanwhile, said he wants Congress to pass bills that had been fine-tuned in the 13th Congress but were shelved due to the lack of time or quorum. "I think they should act on the bills that were almost passed. But it is hard to predict how may of them will be acted upon," he said. Mr. Lim particularly cited the need to pass the PERA, cheaper medicines, customs broker law amendments, and credit information bureau measures. The MBC executive also said he wants Congress to act on a bill rationalizing fiscal incentives but added he was not optimistic of its chances. Senate President Manuel B. Villar, Jr., in a statement, yesterday said "We are ready to work on proposals that will address our people’s most pressing needs today ..." In a telephone interview, economic affairs committee chairperson Loren B. Legarda said she was confident that the priorities would be approved before the June adjournment, "as long as we will not be derailed by politics." Ms. Legarda and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. and Ms. Legarda said the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement would also be discussed. The government wants the bilateral trade deal approved this month. The Senate is also set to continue its probe of the allegedly anomalous $329.48-million National Broadband Network project, which Malacañang claims has distracted it from working on the priority measures. Meanwhile, House ways and means committee chairman Rep. Exequiel B. Javier (Antique), said his committee was working on the income tax perk for minimum wage workers. He also expressed hope that the fiscal incentives bill would be approved. "I will meet with [Finance] Secretary [Margarito B.] Teves and [Trade] Secretary [Peter B.] Favila [today] to iron this out. We can limit the grant of ITH (income tax holiday) only for those investors who can really generate jobs," he said.- BusinessWorld