SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has reported 100-percent approval by the House of Representatives of bills prioritized by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) and by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July 2023.
“Yung 2023 LEDAC na inilagay natin noong Hulyo, na dapat tapusin natin ng Disyembre, tinapos natin ng Setyembre. Three months in advance. ‘Yung mga SONA priorities, na dapat tapusin pa natin bago mag-SONA, tinapos na natin ‘nung Disyembre, over six months in advance. Hinihintay na lang natin ‘yung mga kaibigan natin sa Senado, kung kailan nila tatapusin,” Romualdez said.
“Kumbaga, wala kaming back subjects, naghihintay lang kami kaya sana ‘yung mga kaibigan namin sa Senado, imbes na kung anu-anong pinag-uusapan, kesyo PI (People’s Initiative), RBH (Resolution of Both Houses), eh tapusin na lang natin ‘yung trabaho nila ‘di ba, ‘yung LEDAC, SONA priorities. Tapusin na lang ‘yan. Tutukan na nila ‘yung trabaho nila. Palaging inaano ‘yung trabaho natin eh, porket tapos na ‘yung trabaho natin eh. Kadugay (mabagal). Tapusin n’yo na lang trabaho n’yo. Tama na itong mga kung anu-anong pinagsasabi,” he said.
“Mga senator, trabahuin na lang ‘yung LEDAC at SONA priorities para sa bayan. Paligoy-ligoy kayo. Kaya walang LEDAC kahapon, sa totoo lang nanghihingi pa sila ng extension,” Romualdez stressed.
“Tapos na lahat ng assignments natin, ‘yung Senado hindi pa tapos. Tapusin ninyo ang trabaho ninyo. Naghihintay ang mga Pilipino. ‘Wag madi-distract dito sa PI, wala kayong pakialam sa PI. Yung PI trabaho na ‘yan ng taumbayan. ‘Yung mga congressman at mga senador, trabahuhin natin ang legislation. So let’s focus on our work, get down to work, buckle down, there’s just 24 of you. Get your act together, focus. Focus on your work. And stop hitting on Congress and maintain parliamentary courtesy,” he said.
The leader of the 300-plus-strong House also reiterated his and his chamber’s continued support to the President.
“I am very much honored to be at the helm of a House of Representatives that is as dedicated and hardworking as the 19th Congress. Mr. President, rest assured that you will have our continued support, and may we all stand united in our goal for a brighter, better Philippines for our countrymen,” he said.
Romualdez told the meeting that the House “is working hard towards realizing the common legislative agenda of the executive and legislative branches.”
As of Sept. 27, 2023, he said the House has approved all 20 of LEDAC’s priority measures targeted for passage by December last year, three months ahead of schedule.
In fact, he said 10 of the 20 were passed on third reading as early as 2022.
He enumerated these as Internet Transactions Act, Public-Private Partnership Act, Ease of Paying Taxes, New Philippine Passport, Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, HEART Act, Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines, NCST Program Act, Valuation Reform, and Waste Treatment Technology Act.
“Truly, this is a testament to the zeal and commitment of the members of the House of Representatives in passing our common legislative agenda,” Speaker Romualdez said.
He said of the 20 LEDAC bills, five have been enacted into law, while three — New Philippine Passport Act, Salt Industry Development Act and Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers — would soon be sent to the President for his signature.
Another measure, which contains proposed amendments to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act, is being finalized by bicameral conference committee.
The rest of the LEDAC measures approved by the House have been sent to the Senate for action, the Speaker reported.
“And out of the 57 LEDAC common legislative agenda measures, all have been approved by the House of Representatives except three. The latest that was approved was the Philippine Self-Reliant Defense Posture Program Act, which was passed on third reading last January 24, 2024,” he said.
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