Escudero, Romualdez confident over finishing legislative agenda

After Tuesday's 5th  Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting in Malacañang Palace, the two leaders of Congress expressed confidence that they could act and complete the government's legislative agenda given the targeted schedule.

Senate President Francis ''Chiz'' Escudero said the LEDAC discussions between the executive and legislative branches were fruitful.

''Magandang karanasan, Maganda ang naging usapan sa pagitan ng Kongreso, Kamara, at  Senado, gayundin ang ehekutibo, kaugnay sa mga mahahalaga at makabuluhang  batas na kailangang tutukan sa nananatiling 73 araw ng session ng Kamara at Senado. Buo ang pag-asa at paniniwala ko na kaya naming magawa  ito,'' Escudero said in a statement.

(It was a good experience. We had a good discussion with the Senate, and even with the executive, on the important measures that we need to focus on in the remaining 73 days of the session. We are confident we can do  this.)

Escudero said the Senate would prioritize the passage of six of the remaining 10 priority measures identified by the LEDAC, along with three key Senate priority bills, when session resumes next month.

“The Senate is committed to working diligently toward the passage of these essential measures. We aim to address critical areas that will enhance our economic framework, environmental sustainability, and governance,” Escudero said in a separate press statement.

He said the six LEDAC priorities, which are now set for plenary deliberation and approval on final reading in the Senate, are the proposed Blue Economy Act, Enterprise-Based Education and Training Framework Act, amendments to the Universal Health Care Act, establishment of the Department of Water Resources, Open Access in Data Transmission Act, and Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy or CREATE MORE.

For his part, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said he too was confident that the two chambers of Congress could complete the agenda amid the new Senate leadership.

''Siyempre natutuwa po  kami kasi sa bagong liderato ng Senado, mataas ang kumpiyansa kong  matatapos natin ang ating legislative agenda, ang mga priority list at  saka ang [Common Legislative  Agenda] ng ating Presidente, Senado at saka House,'' Romualdez  said.

(I'm glad that with the new Senate leadership, we can  finish our legislative agenda, our priority list, and the CLA of the  President, the Senate, and the House.)

Romualdez said the House was awaiting the Senate's action on several of the priority legislative proposals of the administration.

“The House of the People has done its homework. Our accomplishments reflect our proactive stance in catering to the needs of the people by passing these much-needed legislation that are attuned to the Philippine  Development Plan and the 8-point socio-economic agenda under the  Medium-Term Fiscal Framework of the President,” Romualdez said.

The Speaker said the Chamber had approved on third and final reading last  March, or three months ahead of schedule, all of the 20 priority LEDAC  measures targeted for passage by the end of June 2024.

Meanwhile, Romualdez said three of these measures had been enacted into law, three were undergoing the enrollment process as two conference committee reports have been adopted by both chambers and one was adopted as an amendment to the House bill.

Records from the House showed the three latest LEDAC bills Marcos signed into law were the Philippine  Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System Act, Real Property  Valuation and Assessment Reform Act, and the Negros Island Region Act.

The two ratified bicameral reports were those on proposed amendments to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act and the Government Procurement Reform  Act.

Meanwhile, the changes approved by the Senate in the  House version of the Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming Act were adopted by the House.

The four measures undergoing bicameral deliberations were the Philippine Defense Industry Development  Act/Self-Reliant Defense Posture Act, the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program Act, and the VAT on  Digital Transactions Act.

On the other hand, the 10 other  LEDAC priority bills that the House approved on third and final reading were the Waste Treatment Technology Act, Instituting a National Citizens  Service Training Program, E-Governance Act, Open Access in Data  Transmission Act, Military and Uniformed Personnel Pension Reform Bill;  Blue Economy Act, Department of Water Resources / National Water  Resources Act, Enhancing Philippine Tax Incentive / CREATE MORE,  Enterprise-Based Education and Training Program Act, and proposed amendments to the Universal Health Care Act.

Of the  20 LEDAC priority measures the lower chamber of Congress approved on third and final reading, 10 have yet to be finally passed by the  Senate.

Meanwhile, as of June 25, 2024, the LEDAC had 59 priority measures, 13 of which were already signed into law. — DVM/RSJ, GMA Integrated News