THE House of Representatives on Wednesday adopted Senate Bill (SB) 2439 as an amendment to House Bill (HB) 8443, which seeks to establish the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS).
Both SB 2439 and HB 8443 have passed third and final reading in the respective chambers of Congress.
Deputy Majority Leader of the Committee on Rules, Ang Probinsyano Party-list Rep. Alfred delos Santos said, “The sponsor of HB 8443, as well as the authors thereof, are in concurrence with the provisions of SB 2439,” and thereafter moved for the adoption of the Senate version of the measure in accordance to the Rules of the HRep.
The 5th paragraph of Section 61 of the Rules of the House of Representatives provides that “Senate bills or resolutions which are substantially the same as House bills previously approved, may be disposed of immediately as pending matters. The House may concur with the Senate amendments to the House bill or resolution or adopt the Senate bill or resolution as the House version of the measure.”
The proposed PENCAS is an information system and accounting framework that seeks to calculate the value of ecosystems of the Philippines, to include forests, watersheds and marine areas. The data to be generated through the PENCAS is seen to enable the integration of natural assets into the planning, policy-making and budgeting processes of government.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives also adopted Senate Bill 2505 as an amendment to HB 1270, also approved on third and final reading. HB 1270, to be known as the “Eddie Garcia Act,” seeks to institute policies to protect and promote the welfare of workers and independent contractors in the film, television and radio entertainment industry.
