THE House of Representatives, led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, forged on in its legislative work on Tuesday, approving on second reading House Bill (HB) 11039, which would upgrade and create additional positions in the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC).
Negros Occidental Rep. Juliet Marie De Leon-Ferrer, chairperson of the House Committee on Justice, in sponsoring the measure, emphasized the importance of the OGCC in the government corporate sector.
She said that the OGCC serves as the counsel of government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) pursuant to Executive Order No. 292, or the Administrative Code of 1987.
“The number of government corporations has grown exponentially in the past decades. From 53 in 1983, the country now has 733 government corporations,” Ferrer said.
“In order for the OGCC to adapt to the existing conditions and make its organizational structure comparable to other legal departments of the government, there is a pressing need to upgrade and create additional positions in the OGCC and to make its compensation benefits similar to other offices performing similar work,” Ferrer added, emphasizing that GOCCs play a crucial role in the country’s economic development.
Co-authors of HB 11039 are Reps. Joey Sarte Salceda, Rufus Rodriguez, Ferrer, Elizaldy Co, Divina Grace Yu, Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” Villanueva, and Edwin Olivarez.
The House also approved on second reading the following bills that would further promote local tourism in the country : 1) HB 10637, declaring the Binadlan Falls, located in Barangay Biao, Municipality of Binalbagan, Province of Negros Occidental, an ecotourism site; 2) HB 11105, declaring the immediate environs of the Nuestra Señora de Salvacion Church, located in Barangay Napotiocan, Municipality of Laoang, Province of Northern Samar, as tourism destination; 3) HB 11106, declaring the Pinipisakan Falls, located in the Municipality of Las Navas, Province of Northern Samar, a tourism destination; 4) HB 11107, declaring the Batag Lighthouse Station, located in Barangay Marubay, Batag Island, Municipality of Laoang, Province of Northern Samar, a tourism destination; 5) HB 11109, declaring the Sineguelasan Mangroves Park, located in Dulong Pulo, Barangay Sinbanali, City of Bacoor, Province of Cavite, an ecotourism zone to be known as the “City of Bacoor Mangrove and Ecotourism Park”; and 6) HB 1111, declaring Sitio Timoga, located in Barangay Buru – Un, City of Iligan, Province of Lanao Del Norte, a tourism zone.
