Malacañang, Congress list 20 priority legislative measures to be passed before year ends

Malacañang and Congress have agreed on 20 priority legislative measures to be passed before the end of 2023.

These bills were identified during the 2nd Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting presided over by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the presidential palace on Wednesday. 

These include the Amendments to the BOT Law/PPP bill, National Disease Prevention Management Authority, the Internet Transactions Act/E-Commerce Law, Health Emergency Auxillary Reinforcement Team (Heart) Act, formerly the Medical Reserve Corps, the Virology Institute of the Philippines, Mandatory ROTC and NSTP, Revitalizing the Salt Industry, Valuation Reform, E-Government/E-Governance, and Ease of Paying Taxes.

The National Government Rightsizing Program, Unified System of Separation/Retirement and Pension of MUPs, LGU Income Classification, Waste-to-Energy bill, New Philippine Passport Act, Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, National Employment Action Plan, Amendments to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas-endorsed Bank Deposit Secrecy, and Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA) bills were also included.

According to the Presidential Communications Office, 18 of the 20 bills were part of the 42 priority legislative measures mentioned during the first LEDAC meeting in October 2022.

Three of them (Republic Act 11934 or An Act Requiring the Registration of Subscriber Identity Module; RA 11935 or the Postponement of Barangay/SK elections and RA 11939 or Amendment to AFP Fixed Term) had been signed into law, while three (RA HB 6608 or the Maharlika Investment Fund Act, HB 7751 or the Department of Health Specialty Centers Act, and HB 6336 or New Agrarian Emancipation Act) are for the President’s signature.

The LEDAC serves as a consultative and advisory body to the President on certain programs and policies essential to the realization of the goals of the national economy.