A PACKAGE of 10 proposed bills—including reforms in the country’s taxation system, and the bill addressing the country’s traffic crisis—will be part of the priority legislation the legislative and executive branches have agreed to work on in the next months.
This was confirmed during the four-hour consultative meeting and dialogue between officials from the Senate and the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office last Tuesday at the Midas Hotel in Pasay City.
Senate officials led by Senate Secretary Lutgardo Barbo, chiefs-of-staff from the offices of the senators, and Senate Secretariat officers represented the Upper Chamber during the event.
The PLLO contingent was led by Secretary Adelino Sitoy and Undersecretary Antonio Gallardo.
According to Gallardo, both panels agreed to “work closer and enhance cooperation” to secure the more efficient passage of pending legislation, given Congress’ hectic and limited schedule.
He said both Houses of Congress would only have around 14 calendar days to meet their legislative targets before they go on sine die adjournment in June.
“I would say the task ahead of us is quite challenging. But as long as we work together, the challenge can be answered adequately,” Sitoy said.
Gallardo said the 10 bills considered as “common priorities” by Congress and Malacañang were: Occupational Safety and Health Hazards Compliance Act;
Committee Report No. 30, National Mental Health Act, Utilization of the Coconut Levy Fund, National Transport Act (to address transport traffic crisis), Unified National Identification System Act; Condonation of Land Amortization and Arrears on Interest Payment, Concurrent Joint Congress Resolution on the Revised Base Pay Schedule of Military and Uniform Personnel, Pension Reform for Uniformed Personnel;
Comprehensive Tax Reform Program and Security of Tenure Bill.
Out of the 10 priority legislation, Gallardo said four were already in advanced legislation either at the House of Representatives or at the Senate.
These are the proposed National Transport Act, the Utilization of the Coconut Levy Fund, the Occupational Safety and Health Hazards Compliance Act, and the National Mental Health Act.
Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte identified 55 priority bills as part of his legislative agenda while Congress listed 39 “common legislative priorities.”
“The challenge really is on how all of us can help push these important bills,” Gallardo said.