THE House of Representatives (HRep) under the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Monday ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the disagreeing votes of House Bill (HB) 8980 or the Fiscal Year 2024 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). The proposed national budget for next year amounts to P5.768 trillion. The Senate has also ratified the bicam report.
The HRep approved on second reading HB 9571, which would prohibit the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons, provide for their destruction, and impose penalties for violations. The measure aims to adopt and purse a policy of freedom from chemical weapons for the protection all human beings and the global environment. When signed into law, the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) would be designated as the Philippine National Authority on Chemical Weapons Convention (PNA-CWC) to be chaired by the Executive Secretary. The bill prohibits persons from 1) developing, producing, acquiring, stockpiling, or retaining chemical weapons, 2) using chemical weapons, 3) engaging in any military preparations to use a chemical weapon, and 4) using a riot control agent as a method of warfare. Violators would be penalized with imprisonment of 12 years and one day to life imprisonment and a fine of P2 million to P5 million. Committee on Public Order and Safety Chair and Sta. Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez sponsored and defended the bill on the floor. Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto presided over Monday’s plenary session.
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