FROM BUSINESSWORLD MARCH 1, 2011
A FINAL LIST of 23 priority measures was presented yesterday by Malacañang to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), meeting for the first time under the Aquino administration.
Congress leaders pledged approval of the list, which Palace officials said tackled human development, economic progress, infrastructure development, good governance as well as enhancement of national sovereignty and rule of law.
It comprises:
• the fiscal responsibility bill mandating legislators to pass counterpart revenue-generating provisions for every loss-causing law;
• the rationalization of fiscal incentives offered investors;
• an anti-trust measure;
• a National Land Use Act that will ensure equitable access to resources and sustainable development;
• amendments to the government procurement law to support the public-private partnership program;
• amendments to the build-operate-transfer law to ensure uniformity in the treatment of investors and transparency in the award of contracts;
• amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act to address continued power sector inefficiency;
• amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act;
• amendments to the National Health Insurance Act to expand basic health care coverage to more of the poor;
• amendments to Labor Code provisions preventing night work for women;
• reorganization of the National Food Authority;
• creation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
• creation of the Land Administration Authority;
• a water utilities reform bill;
• a measure streamlining perks at state-owned firms;
• strengthening of the witness protection, security and benefit program;
• better protection for whistle-blowers;
• changes to the 1935 National Defense Act to address current security issues;
• a measure prescribing the rights and obligations of foreign vessels passing through the country’s sea lanes;
• defining the country’s maritime zones to provide clear territorial limits;
• a revival of the Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization program that ended in February 2010;
• extension of the basic education term to 12 years; and
• the postponement of this year’s Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections and synchronizing this with the 2013 national and local polls.
Measures that have already hurdled the committee level at the House are those extending the basic education term, the postponement of the ARMM elections, and changes to the Labor Code and perks at state-owned firms.
Mr. Belmonte said the LEDAC had discussed all but one of the priority measures during the five-hour meeting. The fiscal responsibility bill, he said, would have required more time than was available. The LEDAC was also forced to defer discussion of the 2011-2016 Medium Term Philippine Development Plan.
President Benigno S. C. Aquino III, asked what bills he wanted Congress to pass before the end of its first regular session on June 9, cited the deferment of the ARMM polls.
Yesterday’s LEDAC meeting -- originally scheduled for end-January but moved as the Palace worked to trim the priority list -- marked the first time in over a year that the consultative and advisory body was convened.
Republic Act 7640, signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos signed into law in 1992 states that the body should meet at least once every quarter. The last LEDAC event, according to state planners, was on Oct. 15, 2009.
The LEDAC is chaired by the President with the Vice-President as vice-chairman. The Senate President, Speaker of the House, seven Cabinet secretaries, three other senators and three other congressmen who deal with socioeconomic issues are members.
In principle, the council also includes a representative each from the local government, private sector and youth sector. -- AMGR
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INQUIRER - Jan 2011
17 priority bills
I. Human Development
a. An Act creating the Department of Housing and Urban Development (DHUD), defining the mandates, powers and functions, providing funds therefore, and for other purposes
b. An Act rationalizing the night work prohibition on women workers, thereby amending Articles 130 and 131 of Presidential Decree # 442 as amended, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines
c. An Act enhancing the curriculum and increasing the number of years for basic education, appropriating funds therefore and for other purposes
d. An Act providing a definite targeting strategy in identifying the poor, amending republic act no. 7875, otherwise known as The National Health Insurance Act of 1995 as amended, and for other purposes
II. Infrastructure Development
An Act further amending certain sections of republic act no. 6957, as amended by Republic Act No. 7718, Entitled “An Act authorizing the financing, construction, operation and maintenance of infrastructure projects by the private sector, and for other purposes," appropriating Funds for the said purpose, and for other purposes
III. Economic Development
An Act rationalizing the grant and administration of fiscal incentives for the promotion of investments and growth, and for other purposes
IV. Sovereignty, Security and Rule of Law
a. An Act to establish the archipelagic sea lanes in the philippine archipelagic waters, prescribing the rights and obligations of foreign ships and aircrafts exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage through the established archipelagic sea lanes and providing for the associated protective measures therein
b. An Act to define the maritime zones of the Republic of the Philippines
c. An Act to strengthen the modernization of the Armed Forces of The Philippines, extending the implementation of the modernization program of the AFP, instituting necessary reforms in the AFP, amending for the purpose certain provisions of Republic Act No. 7898, otherwise known as the AFP modernization act and for other purposes
d. An Act resetting the date of the regular elections for elective officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Synchronizing the ARMM Elections with the synchronized national and local elections 2013, amending for the purpose Republic Act No. 9333, Entitled “An Act Affixing the Date for Regular Elections for Elective Officials of the ARMM Pursuant to RA 9054" Entitled “An Act to Strengthen and Expand the Organic Act for the ARMM, amending for the purpose RA 6734, Entitled An Act Providing for an Organic Act for the ARMM, as Amended," and for other purposes
V. Good Governance
a. An Act instituting reforms in land administration
b. An Act to promote financial viability and fiscal discipline in Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations and to strengthen the role of the state in its governance and management to make them more responsive to the needs of public interest and for other purposes.
Among the added priority bills were the proposed anti-trust law, protection and security to whistle-blowers, amendments to the Witness Protection Program, creation of a water regulatory body, government procurement reforms, and defining the powers and functions of the Department of National Defense.
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