House vows to pass LEDAC bills; help farmers, fisherfolk

FILE: The House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez today opened the Second Regular Session of the 19th Congress with the firm resolve to keep up the momentum of the First Regular Session and pass the remaining nine (9) out of the 44 priority measures identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). (Photo: House of Representatives of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Monday vowed that the House of Representatives will remain steadfast and focused on the 20 legislative measures approved during the second Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting, as well as in addressing the issues confronting the Philippine agricultural sector in the soonest possible time.

In his opening statement at the start of the Second Regular Session of the 19th Congress, Romualdez told his colleagues that their unwavering aim is to pass the 20 LEDAC bills before the year ends.

“We stay committed to spurring economic growth, alleviating poverty, augmenting healthcare services, and fostering job opportunities for our fellow countrymen,” he said.

These measures include Amendments to the BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) Law or Public-Private Partnership bill; National Disease Prevention Management Authority; Internet Transactions Act or E-Commerce Law; Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team (HEART) Act, formerly Medical Reserve Corps; Virology Institute of the Philippines; Mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and National Service Training Program; Revitalizing the Salt Industry; Valuation Reform; e-Government and e-Governance; and Ease of Paying Taxes.

Equally important priority measures that the House is eyeing to pass this year are the National Government Rightsizing Program; Unified System of Separation/Retirement and Pension of Military and Other Uniformed Personnel (MUPs); Local Government Unit (LGU) Income Classification; Waste-to-Energy Bill; New Philippine Passport Act; Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers; National Employment Action Plan; Amendments to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act; Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas-endorsed Bank Deposit Secrecy; and Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA) bills.

“We face the remaining bills in the LEDAC priority list with enthusiasm and optimism, steadfast in our determination to transform these initiatives into concrete laws for the benefit of our fellow Filipinos,” Romualdez said.

He said the House also renews its dedication and passion, and honoring their pledge to amplify investment prospects for domestic and foreign investors through the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) and other initiatives aimed at accelerating our nation’s development.

“In this endeavor, we are fortunate to have a strong collaboration with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., whose leadership and guidance have been instrumental in our efforts to foster an environment that encourages economic growth and invites both local and international investments,” he said.

“His aspiration for a prosperous Philippines aligns with the objectives this Congress seeks to achieve, and I am confident that together, we can forge a flourishing path for the Filipino people,” he added.

Safeguarding farmers’ interest, sustainable fisheries

Meanwhile, Romualdez said it is “equally imperative” to address the issues confronting the agricultural sector in the soonest possible time.

“We will redouble our efforts to stop the smuggling of rice, sugar, and onions, which harms our farmers’ competitiveness and disrupts the agricultural value chain. We shall safeguard our farmers’ interests, ensure equitable market conditions, and foster sustainable farming methods to ensure our nation’s food security,” he said.

Over the weekend, the House leader promised to closely monitor the implementation of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, under which PHP5.7 billion in debt incurred by 610,000 farmers and other agrarian reform beneficiaries is to be written off.

In addition to the chamber’s priority measures, and in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment to sustainable fisheries, Romualdez said the House will also increase the existing strategic agriculture and fisheries development zones (SAFDZ).

“These zones will not only reinforce our fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing but also promote responsible fishing practices, safeguard our marine resources, and support the livelihoods of our fisherfolk,” he said.

Forging ahead

Moving forward, Romualdez urged his colleagues to remain steadfast in their commitment to transparency, accountability and the tireless pursuit of public welfare.

“May this session stand as further testament to our capability and dedication as the people’s lawmakers. Let us labor to sustain our gains, continue to work tirelessly, and strive to realize our shared dreams for our nation,” he said.

“Reconvening for the Second Regular Session, I borrow wisdom from our esteemed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who asserts, ‘to forge significant progress, we must summon the bravery to envisage change, the fortitude to strive for it, and the unity to materialize it,’” Romualdez said.