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Ni Ernie Reyes
INIHAYAG ni Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri na nakatakdang aprubahan ng Senado sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa ang 17 priority legislation na nakalista sa Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) at 12 local bills para sa pagpapaunlad ng state universities and colleges (SUCs).
“Apart from the budget deliberations in the committee, the Senate is doing its best to deliberate and pass important measures and see their enactment into law to benefit millions of Filipinos,” ayon kay Zubiri.
“In fact, on Monday, we will approve four measures that are part of our LEDAC commitments. And so far, we are on track to meeting our deadlines because, by the end of this year, we hope to approve all 20 LEDAC priority measures pending in the Senate,” giit ng lider ng senado.
Aniya, nitong nakaraang linggo, inaprubahan ng Seando ang limang panukala na may p national application sa second reading: Senate Bill No. 2001 or the New Philippine Passport Act; SB 1846 o ang Internet Transactions Act of 2023; SB 2224 or the Ease of Paying Taxes Act; SB 2028 o An Act Recognizing the Octogenarians, Nonagenarians, and Centenarians; at SB 2233 o ang Public Private Partnership Act.
“These measures will be up for final reading on Monday. The deliberations on these bills have been exhaustive and I am confident that we did a good job of crafting these pieces of legislation, the efforts and expertise of the legislative staff in the Senate included,” ayon sa Senate chief.
Sinabi ni Zubiri na lahat nang binanggit na panukala, bukod sa SB 2028, ay bahagi ng
LEDAC priority list na siya mismo ang awtor ng PPP Act at Internet Transactions Act.
Nakahanay naman ang 12 local bills para sa SUCs na aaprubahan sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa.
“After the approval of the four LEDAC measures on Monday, the Senate will set the schedule for the bicameral conference committee hearing with their counterparts in the lower house, bringing the measures closer to enactment into law,” ayon sa mambabatas.
Tiniyak ni Zubiri na makakamit ng Senate ang pangako nito na aprubahan sa final reading ang natitirang 17 sa 20 LEDAC measures bago magbakasyon ang sesyon sa Disyembre.
“So far, two measures – the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act and the LGU Income Classification Act – are already up for signature by President Marcos Jr. and awaiting enactment into law. Another bill, the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act, has already been approved by the Senate on final reading and awaiting bicameral committee action,” ayon kay Zubiri.
Kabilang din dito ang Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act at ang Amendments to the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, na parehong nasa period of amendments bag aprubahan sa second reading.
Certiofied as urgent ang Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act kaya malaki ang posibilidad na maaprubahan ito sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa sa susunod na linggo, ayon kay Zubiri.
Aniya, apat na panukala – ang Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act, Waste-to-Energy Bill, Mandatory ROTC and NSTP at ang National Disease Prevention Management Authority/CDC Bill ay nasa period of interpellations at maaprubahan sa ikalawang pagbasa.
Nakatakdang isailalim sa deliberasyon at diskurso ang natitira pang LEDAC bills.
“With our pace in approving these LEDAC measures, I am confident that come December, all of our LEDAC commitments will have been met,” ayon kay Zubiri.
