House of Representatives plenary hall (File photo)
MANILA – Following the swift passage of the PHP5.268-trillion national passage for 2023, House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Tuesday vowed to pass the remaining 12 Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) measures of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) next year.
The 12 priority measures are the enactment of an enabling law for the natural gas industry; amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act or EPIRA; the Unified System of Separation, Retirement and Pension; the E-Governance Act and E-Government Act; the National Land Use Act; the National Defense Act; the National Government Rightsizing Program; the Budget Modernization Bill; the Department of Water Resources; establishing the Negros Island Region; magna carta Filipino seafarers; and the establishment of regional specialty hospitals.
“You can count on the House to work harder next year to do our part in improving the lives of our people. I truly believe it is the best way to express our gratitude for the greatest gift all public officials have received---the opportunity to serve our country,” Romualdez said in a statement.
He said the House leadership reiterates its unwavering commitment to support the agenda for prosperity of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., particularly the 12 remaining bills which are focused on job creation, sustainable health system and ensuring economic recovery and growth.
In the first five months of the 19th Congress, Romualdez said the House back its commitment pass priority measures with “tangible results.”
“The House has approved a total of 19 of the priority legislations of our President. The rest are in advanced stages of consideration,” he said.
Aside from 2023 national budget, the House also approved pro-people measures, including the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) and 20 other priority bills of Marcos, 19 of which were listed under the LEDAC’s CLA.
“I must also cite the record swift passage of the historic PHP5.268-trillion 2023 national budget that President Marcos signed just last Friday, giving his administration the resources to sustain our economic expansion momentum and keep the country on the high-growth path,” he said.
Bills and resolutions
Romualdez also said the House processed a total of 1,150 bills and resolutions or an average of 28 measures per session during its 41 session days from July 25 to Dec. 15.
In his report, House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe said a total of 7,402 measures were filed in the House of Representatives, 6,716 were bills, 685 were resolutions and 263 were committee reports.
Dalipe said the chamber approved 173 bills on third and final reading, passed 21 measures on 2nd reading, and adopted 43 resolutions, including Concurrent Resolution No. 2, which supported the 2022-2028 Medium Term Fiscal Framework of the Marcos administration.
“The focused and compassionate leadership of Speaker Martin G. Romualdez and the teamwork and cooperation of our colleagues helped the House of Representatives in pushing the Malacañang’s legislative agenda,” Dalipe said.
He also hailed the hard-working House officials, secretariat, and other employees who have been helping the House leadership in shepherding the approval of pro-people priority legislations that cater to their needs, especially in these challenging and difficult times. (PNA)
