THE House Committee on Ways and Means, chaired by Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, approved several unnumbered substitute bills this week, addressing vital legislative initiatives across education, healthcare, child welfare, environmental assessment and economic development.
Approved was the unnumbered substitute bill to House Bills (HBs) 2363, 6790, 6973, 8829, 8860, 9060 and 9632, which propose revisions to the charter of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. The committee also approved the substitute bill to HBs 6503, 8056, 8489 and 8589, aimed at updating the Philippine National Maritime Academy Charter. Both bills were unanimously approved without amendments.
Also approved was the substitute bill to HB 10144 or the proposed Sentro Rizal Act. It seeks to enhance cultural programs by appropriating necessary funds and repealing certain provisions of the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.
The committee on health also endorsed to Salceda’s committee the substitute bill to HB 10144, the Health Maintenance Organizations Bill, aimed at ensuring access of all Filipinos to quality healthcare access by establishing a regulatory framework for health maintenance organizations (HMOs).
The committee on ways and means also approved the substitute bill to HBs 3111, 5032 and 5694 or the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Bill. It aims to strengthen the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Complementary Health Care.
Also approved was the substitute bill to HBs 4591, 5577, 7196 and 8163, as endorsed by the committee on welfare of children. It seeks to reorganize the council for the welfare of children at the Philippine Commission on Children, with the necessary funding support.
Other bills the committee of ways and means approved were:
• The substitute bill to HBs 1423, 7959 and 8594, as proposed by the committee on ecology, which would establish the Philippine Environmental Assessment System Act.
• HB 10678, as submitted by the committee on trade and industry, establishing the Clark National Food Hub. Author and Leyte Rep. Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon emphasized the urgent need to improve market access for farmers and fisherfolk, many of whom are facing high poverty rates.
• Bills establishing special economic zone in Surigao del Sur, Ilocos Norte, Antique, Camarines Norte, New Clark City and Quirino, all aimed at bolstering local economies, as submitted by the committee on economic affairs, in conjunction with the committee on trade and industry.
