DEPDev: 40 priority bills passed in 19th Congress

MANILA, Philippines — Seven more priority measures of the Marcos administration were passed by the 19th Congress before it adjourned, bringing the total number of priority bills approved to 40, the highest since the Ramos era.

In a statement yesterday, the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) said the 19th Congress passed 40 priority bills under the Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

“This marks the highest number of priority measures passed since the 10th Congress during the Ramos administration,” the DEPDev said.

The seven bills ratified by the Senate and House of Representatives include the Government Optimization Act, Liberalizing the Lease of Private Lands by Foreign Investors, E-Governance Act, Konektadong Pinoy Act, Virology Institute of the Philippines, Accelerated and Reformed Right-of-Way Act, and the Enhanced Fiscal Regime for Large-Scale Metallic Mining Act.

Once President Marcos signs the seven bills, these will be added to the 33 measures already approved into law under the CLA.

Priority measures that were signed into law include economic and tax reforms such as the Public-Private Partnership Code of the Philippines, the CREATE MORE Act, the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act, the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act, the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, as well as the Tatak Pinoy Act.

Other priority measures that were enacted focus on education such as the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program Act and the Enterprise-Based Education and Training Framework Act.

Also approved into law were measures aimed at boosting agricultural productivity such as the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act and the Amendments to the Agricultural Tariffication Act.

“This achievement would not have been possible without the heightened synergy between the Senate and the House of Representatives. We extend our sincere gratitude to Senate Presidents Francis Escudero and Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, for their unwavering commitment to advancing our country’s legislative agenda for a brighter future for all Filipinos,” DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

Balisacan said the government hopes to see continued momentum in advancing the legislative agenda during the 20th Congress.

“In particular, DEPDev fully supports the passage of the Department of Water Resources Bill and the proposed National Land Use Act (NLUA). as part of our thrust to complete the groundwork for more efficient governance and sustainable development in the years ahead,” he said.

The DEPDev, formerly the National Economic and Development Authority, serves as the principal secretariat to the LEDAC.

The council is the primary consultative and advisory body to the President on programs and policies that are needed to achieve the economy’s goals.

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations Inc. (CREBA) is pushing for the passage of legislative reforms that will help address the country’s 6.5 million housing backlog and sustain economic growth.

Among the reforms being pushed by the CREBA is the NLUA to provide a clear, long-term framework for the rational use of land and natural resources, while promoting food security, environmental preservation, infrastructure, human settlements and growth.

“While the bill has been, time and again, certified as an urgent measure, several versions of the NLUA bills have continued to languish in the legislative mills for close to thirty years for lack of consensus among stakeholders,” CREBA said in a statement.

Also part of CREBA’s proposed reforms is the amendment of the balanced housing provisions of Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act to encourage greater private sector participation in the delivery of socialized and economic housing units.

In addition, CREBA wants to see changes in RA 6552 or the Realty Installment Buyer Act also known as the Maceda Law to promote the welfare of both the developers and buyers in case of a default on home purchases.

CREBA is also pushing for legislation for a Comprehensive Home Financing Program to expand access to long-term, affordable housing credit for low and middle-income families.

The group also wants the government to amend or strengthen existing laws on property registration, taxation, fiscal incentives and rental housing to remove bottlenecks in land development and the delivery of housing units.

“We are ready to work with our lawmakers toward a future where every Filipino has a place to call home — and where housing becomes the cornerstone of a stronger, more resilient economy,” CREBA said.

Ahead of its national convention from Oct. 15 to 17 in Baguio City, CREBA said it would engage with government leaders, experts and key stakeholders to present solutions to the housing backlog and challenges in the real estate sector.