HOUSE of Representatives Kamanggagawa Partylist Rep. Elijah “Eli” San Fernando on Thursday filed five legislative measures aimed at strengthening workers’ welfare, promoting the fair and efficient use of economic resources, and reforming governance systems that directly affect jobs, livelihoods, and living conditions across the country.
At the center of the package are two bills that Rep. San Fernando said address long-standing structural problems faced by workers and small enterprises: idle land speculation and costly, repetitive red tape for businesses that generate employment.
One of the key measures filed is House Bill No. 7212, an act increasing the tax on idle lands, which amends Section 236 of the Local Government Code of 1991. The bill raises the allowable idle land tax from 5 percent to 10 percent of the assessed value of the property.
San Fernando said vast tracts of idle and underutilized land, especially in urban and peri-urban areas, continue to worsen housing shortages, inflate land prices, and limit access to jobs and basic services.
“Kapag iniipon at hinahayaang nakatiwangwang ang lupa dahil lang sa kasakiman sa tubo, may tunay na gastos iyon sa mga manggagawa. Mataas na renta, malalayong biyahe papasok sa trabaho, at kakaunting oportunidad,” he said.
By strengthening the idle land tax, the measure seeks to discourage land speculation, push landowners to develop or release idle properties for productive use, and give local governments a more effective tool to promote inclusive growth. Revenues from the increased tax may also support local services, infrastructure, and social programs that benefit working communities.
“Hindi puwedeng tubo lang ng iilan ang inuuna habang ang mga manggagawa ang nagbabayad ng presyo,” San Fernando added. “Ang pagmamay-ari ng lupa ay may kaakibat na pananagutan sa lipunan.”
Rep. San Fernando also filed House Bill No. 7213 which extends the validity of local government business permits from one year to five years, amending the Anti-Red Tape Act and the Ease of Doing Business Law.
Under the proposal, businesses will no longer be required to undergo annual permit renewals, unless there are material changes in their operations. Local governments retain their regulatory authority, but administrative renewals may be done on the fifth year or on the permit’s anniversary, instead of every January.
The measure is intended to ease the recurring administrative and financial burden on businesses, particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which account for more than 99 percent of registered establishments and employ nearly two-thirds of the private workforce.
“Kung gusto nating protektahan ang trabaho, kailangan ding bigyan ng mas matatag at predictable na environment ang mga negosyong nagbibigay ng hanapbuhay,” San Fernando said. “Hindi kailangang pahirapan taon-taon ang parehong negosyo kung compliant naman.”
He stressed that the proposal refines, rather than weakens, regulation by allowing government agencies to focus more on substantive oversight and enforcement, instead of repetitive paperwork.
In addition to the two priority bills, Rep. San Fernando also filed three other measures:
– House Bill No. 7211: A Workplace Bullying Prevention Bill that adopts a rights-based and trauma-informed approach to protect workers’ dignity, mental health, and safety at work;
– House Bill No. 7210: A Freedom of Information Bill that strengthens the people’s constitutional right to information and institutionalizes full public disclosure across government; and
– House Resolution No. 651: Calling for an investigation into union-busting and “runaway shop” schemes, particularly in economic zones, to protect workers’ right to organize, security of tenure, and due process.
“These measures come from a simple principle,” San Fernando said. “Ang layunin ng mga panukalang ito ay mas malinaw na patakaran at mas maayos na pamamahala.”
About the Author
