THE House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously approved on third and final reading four bills of national significance, which would strengthen the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), ensure equitable access to education, support young farmers and fisherfolk, as well as honor public land transportation workers.
House Bill 10841, which received 183 votes, aims to strengthen the PCG by 1) defining the PCG organizational structure pertaining to services commands and districts requiring the minimum manning level at three uniformed personnel per one kilometer of coastline, 2) defining the personnel complement of the PCG, such as the ranks and grades personnel, as well as the distribution of ranks of officers and tenure on ranks and position for both officers and enlisted personnel, 3) creating the Office of the Coast Guard Attache, 4) raising the pays, allowances and benefits of the uniformed personnel of the PCG equivalent to their counterparts in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police and 5) establishing the Coast Guard Internal Affairs Service to maintain accountability in the government service.
These reforms seek to make the PCG more responsive in the execution of its mandates on maritime safety, maritime security and marine environmental protection. The bill, when enacted into law, shall replace Republic Act No. 9993, or the Philippine Coast Guard Law of 2009.
The bill counts Reps. Johnny Pimentel, Khymer Adan Olaso, Arnie Fuentebella, Albert Garcia, Rufus Rodriguez, Michael Romero and Eric Martinez as its authors.
The House also unanimously approved with 185 votes HB 10823, establishing public basic education schools in geographically isolated and disadvantaged and conflict-affected areas, providing access roads leading to Last Mile Schools.
The bill aims to 1) ensure equitable access to education most especially for those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged conflict-affected areas in the country, and 2) realize a five-year roadmap of the education system that shall bridge the gap and navigate the way towards the development of families in geographically isolated and disadvantaged conflict-affected areas.
Among its authors are Reps. Roman Romulo, Joey Sarte Salceda, Yedda Marie Romualdez, Jude Acidre, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Jose “Joboy” Aquino and Jaime Fresnedi.
HB 10840, which received 185 votes, would establish the Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge Program, envisioned to support and empower the young farmers and fisherfolk to be active partners in food security and agricultural development and modernization.
The program also aims to encourage young farmers and fisherfolk between 15 to 35 years of age, to pursue a career or engage in activities related to agriculture, ensure their participation in policy formulation and program implementation, and provide institutional support for agri-business and agri-entrepreneurship initiatives to fully realize the role of the youth as agents and partners for development.
Reps. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, Angelo Marcos Barba, Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte, Yedda Marie Romualdez, Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe and Christopher de Venecia authored the bill.
The House also unanimously approved HB 10811 with 184 votes, declaring May 8 of every year a special working holiday all over the country to recognize the significant contribution to society of the public land transportation workers and honor them as essential part of the country’s workforce.
Principal authors of the bill are Reps. Claudine Diana Bautista-Lim, Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte, Romeo Acop, Bienvenido Abante Jr., Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano, Solomon Chungalao, Gus Tambunting and Salvador Pleyto.
