Noy resets LEDAC meet next year

MANILA, Philippines –  President Aquino has reset the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting to set the administration’s priority measures in Congress, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said yesterday.

The LEDAC was originally scheduled in November but it was moved to next year but no explanation was given by the Palace why it did not push through.

Belmonte said he was able to speak with Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, who told him that Malacañang has already begun collating some urgent measures for approval by Congress.

“This (15th) Congress is very efficient. All our committees are working efficiently and we have already approved bills on third reading,” Belmonte said when asked if he was worried with the limited time of Congress since the LEDAC was going to be convened months late.

He said apart from himself, he has nominated House Minority Leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales, and Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada as members of the chamber’s contingent to the LEDAC.

Among the bills the House would endorse to Mr. Aquino as priority as amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act, and the Build-Operate-Transfer Law, and the proposed Anti-Trust Law authored by former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.