PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called for the passage of nine legislative measures that aim to uplift the lives of Filipinos and boost the country’s economy and development, among others.
The nine measures are on top of the two other bills that he endorsed in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), namely, the amendment to the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act and amendment to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) law to make both responsive to the needs of coconut farmers and indigent beneficiaries amid the changing times.
The President, in his 240-page President’s Report to the People, said the other legislative bills are the National Land Use Act, Department of Water Resources Act, amendment of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, Excise Tax on Single-Use Plastics, Blue Economy Act, Waste-to-Energy Bill, amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001, New Government Auditing Code, and Budget Modernization Act.
Marcos had previously endorsed most of these bills in the 19th Congress.
He said to sustain a food and water-secure Philippines, his administration shall “continue to push for the approval of the National Land Use Act and the DWR Act.”
He said his administration is also pushing for the passage of the Philippine DRRM Act to strengthen the institutional and organizational capacity of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Office of the Civil Defense OCD in preparing for and responding to the effects of hazards and other calamities.
“We also call on Congress to ensure the immediate passage of the following key legislative measures: Excise Tax on Single-Use Plastics; Blue Economy Act; Waste-to-Energy Bill; and amendments to the EPIRA: ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission) Strengthening,” the President said.
Marcos said the executive branch will also continuously work with Congress for the passage of the New Government Auditing Code and the Budget Modernization Act, which supports the administration’s plans towards participative and accountable governance.
Under the 19th Congress, a total of 295 bills were enacted into law, which included 19 that were passed during the first regular session, 56 during the second regular session and 220 during the third regular session.
Data from the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office showed that 15 of the 18 bills that had been certified as urgent under the 19th Congress had been passed and signed into law, while 33 of the 64 priority measures of the administration or common legislative agenda had also been enacted.
