House OKs on-site resettlement bill for informal settlers

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives is close to achieving a move to protect the rights of informal settlers by creating on-site, in-city or near-city resettlement in line with the basic needs and livelihood of affected families.

House Bill No. 5, authored by Speaker Martin Romualdez, was passed on second reading during a hybrid session of the plenary on Wednesday.

The measure promotes the government’s plan to recognize the need for adequate consultation and participation of the beneficiaries themselves in planning their relocation.

The proposed “on-site, in-city or near-city resettlement” plan departs from the usual government programs that are focused on the relocation of informal settlers in areas outside Metro Manila, where they have no access to livelihood and other basic services.

The House on Monday approved on third and final reading 11 national and local bills that seek to promote the safety of private and public buildings and infrastructure, protect the environment and boost tourism.

Romualdez said Mondays are usually devoted to House members’ privilege speeches on their concerns, aside from referral of numerous bills, resolutions and communications to the various committees and tackling unfinished business.

“We managed to pass bills of national and local importance, thanks to the cooperation of every House member,” he said.

The approved measures were HBs 5087, which seeks to make the National Building Code a major subject in engineering courses; 5110, which seeks to strengthen and conserve cultural heritage, and 3622, which extends the life of the Philippine Aerospace Development Corp. by another 50 years.

Eight other measures were mostly of local importance: HBs 5167, 5168, 5169, 5170, 5171, 5172, 5173 up to 5174.

Three key measures were also approved on second reading on Tuesday, which were expected to generate at least P47 billion in annual revenues, if and when such tax measures are signed into law.

Rep. Joey Salceda, chairman of the House ways and means committee, said HB 4102 (Single-use Plastic Bags Tax Act), 4122 (VAT on non-resident digital service providers) and 4339 (package 4 of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program) will benefit the economy.

“The measures can generate a total of P47 billion annually,” Salceda said in a statement.

“With this, the House wraps up with all the priority tax measures of the Duterte-era Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, and is ready to move on to tax collection reforms, as prioritized by the Marcos administration,” he added.

The three measures, which Salceda authored and sponsored, have been passed on second reading in the plenary.

He expects the measures to be approved on third and final reading in the House, either by Nov. 14 or 15.

Salceda also expects the bills to be ready for discussion in the Senate, which is also expected to tackle the Ease of Paying Taxes Act.

“I think we will have at least one tax law enacted over the next six months, very possibly EOPT. But I am hopeful that we will have at least one more, hopefully one of these three,” he said.