The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on Tuesday urged Congress to pass crucial bills as the 19th Congress resumed its second regular session on Monday.
In a related development, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said the House of Representatives has more time to exercise its oversight power now that it has passed on third and final reading of almost all of the administration’s priority bills.
In a statement, the NEDA said these measures include the bills on the Department of Water Resources, Open Access in Data Transmission, and the various fiscal reforms that seek to strengthen tax administration and broaden the tax base.
“It has been one year since the launch of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028. While we saw some of our headline indicators improve, much remains to be done,” said NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.
Romualdez meanwhile said House members would help President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
oversee and implement the programs funded in the 2024 national budget, including assistance to the poor, farmers and fisherfolk as part of the institution’s oversight functions.
“In the coming days and months, the administration will launch major programs to provide relief to our citizens in the face of the inflation that is currently happening around the world,” he said. “We don’t just make laws. Part of our mandate also is ensure that these laws are implemented correctly and fairly. We ensure that every law we pass has a direct benefit to ordinary citizens.”
Romualdez was referring to the proposed P5.768-trillion 2024 national budget that includes almost P500 billion social amelioration program or ‘ayuda’ for at least 12 million poor and low-income families or an estimated 48 million Filipinos.
He revealed that Congress introduced in the budget a new program labeled AKAP, for Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita.
AKAP aims to provide direct cash assistance to the ‘near poor’ or families earning up to P23,000 a month.
At least 12 million households will benefit from it, including low-income workers like those in construction and factories, drivers, food service crew, and the like.
He said the target beneficiaries would receive “a one-time cash assistance.”
“All of these programs have been adequately funded by us here in Congress. Let’s help the President to ensure that every penny of these programs reaches all districts – from cities to barrios,” he said.
He said aside from approving proposed laws, “we have also ably demonstrated our resolve to address issues that impact our fellow Filipinos by exercising our oversight functions.”
The leader of the 310-strong House proceeded to enumerate some of the inquiries the chamber’s committees have conducted in the exercise of its oversight power.
He noted that just last week, upon his instruction, the committees on ways and means and on senior citizens and special committee on persons with disabilities looked into gaps and confusion in the implementation of laws granting discounts, benefits and other privileges to millions of senior citizens, persons with disability (PWDs) and solo parents.
Senior citizens are entitled to a 20-percent discount on medicines, food items and other purchases, plus a 12-percent value added tax exemption.
The inquiry prompted popular coffee chain Starbucks to scrap its “one food item, one beverage” limit on the elderly’s 20-percent discount after apologizing for its “mistake.”
The committees are also looking into a similar restriction of applying the discount on one slice for every cake purchased imposed by a big bakeshop.
