House OKs 327 bills

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has approved a total of 327 bills on final reading since July 23, when former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was elected Speaker.

Of that number, four were already enacted into law. Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. identified these as the Republic Act 11055, which establishes a Filipino national identification system; RA 11058, which strengthens compliance with occupational safety and health standards of Filipino workers; RA 11057, which strengthens the legal framework for the creation, perfection, determination of priority rights and enforcement of security interests in personal property and the establishment of a notice registry; and RA 11059, which establishes a retirement benefit system in the Office of the Ombudsman.

Andaya said three of the measures approved on third and final reading are part of the priority legislative agenda of President Duterte – the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Fund Bill, Rice Tariffication Bill and Trabaho Bill or the second package of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN 2).

He added that the House and the Senate have ratified the conference committee report on the coco levy bill and the proposed law has been sent to Malacañang for the President’s signature. 

Andaya pointed out that three House-approved measures are awaiting action by the Senate since last year – the Universal Health Care Bill, National Land Use and Management Policy Bill and the proposed Endo or Security of Tenure Act (HB 6908).

Only two of the President’s priority measures remain pending at the House: the Department of Disaster Resilience Bill and Charter change that would shift the nation to the federal system, he added.

Before the House adjourned its session on Wednesday for its month-long Halloween recess, it authorized its committees to continue working to finalize and fine-tune bills so these would be ready for plenary discussion or approval when it reconvenes on Nov. 12.