House OKs 23 bills before canvassing

MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives last week approved 23 measures, including the proposed Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers and the strengthening of the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) law.

The measures were approved on Monday before the House and the Senate convened in joint session as the National Board of Canvassers to canvass the votes for president and vice president.

The chamber approved 15 bills on third and final reading and eight bills on second reading. It also ratified five bicameral reports, concurred with Senate amendments to seven national and 10 local bills, and adopted the Senate versions of 10 measures.

“The Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers seeks to improve the Filipino seafarers’ working conditions, terms and conditions of employment and their socio-economic well-being,” its authors said.

The measure provides for the following seafarers’ rights in line with the Maritime Labor Convention of 2006, including just terms and conditions of work, self organization and engage in collective bargaining and participate in democratic exercises, educational advancement and training at reasonable and affordable costs, relevant information, consultation on matters directly affecting them and/or their families and beneficiaries, right against self-discrimination, free legal consultation and access to communication.

The SPES bill seeks to strengthen and expand the coverage of the program under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to include out-of-school youth.

The House ratified bicameral reports on House Bill 6040 and Senate Bill 2419 on “Banning the Reappointment of a Regular Member of the Judicial and Bar Council who has Already Served the Full Term;” HB 4116 and SB 2947 on “Strengthening the Balanced Housing Development Program;” HB 5885 and SB 2950 on “Requiring the Mandatory Installation of Speed Limiter in Public Utility and Certain Types of Vehicles;” and HB 6395 and SB 3032 on “Removing/Amending Investment Restrictions in Specific Laws Governing Adjustment Companies, lending Companies, Financing Companies and Investment Houses Cited in the Foreign Investment Negative List, Except those in the Constitution.”

House members expressed their concurrence with Senate amendments to 17 measures, seven of which are national bills, namely, House Bill 772 “An Act Exempting Surviving Children Of Military Personnel Who Are Mentally Incapacitated From Termination Of Benefits Upon Reaching The Age Of Twenty-One (21), Amending For The Purpose Section 25 Of Presidential Decree 1638, Otherwise Known As The AFP Military Personnel Retirement And Separation Decree Of 1979, As Amended;”

HB 3785 “An Act Strengthening And Institutionalizing Direct Credit Support Of The Land Bank of The Philippines to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries, Small Farmers And Fisherfolk, Further Amending Republic Act No. 3844, Otherwise Known As The Agricultural Land Reform Code, As Amended;” HB 5417 “An Act Regulating The Philippine Credit Card Industry;” HB 5844 “An Act Granting The Avocado Broadband Telecoms Inc. A Franchise To Construct, Install, Establish, Operate And Maintain Telecommunications Systems Throughout The Philippines;”

HB 6012 “An Act Extending For Another Twenty-Five (25) Years The Franchise Granted To Bell Telecommunication Philippines Inc., Amending For The Purpose Republic Act No. 7692, Entitled An Act Granting To Bell Telecommunication Philippines, Inc., A Franchise To Install, Operate And Maintain Telecommunications Systems Throughout The Philippines And For Other Purposes.”