Noy to preside over full Cabinet meeting today

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino will preside over a full Cabinet meeting today, the first for this year, to discuss, among others, the legislative agenda that was tackled in the Cabinet workshop last week.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Cabinet’s proposed 32 priority measures would be studied and firmed up at the meeting.

“The full Cabinet will be discussing the legislative agenda with the President,” Lacierda said.

Last week, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said 32 bills would be submitted to Aquino ahead of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council meeting this month.

“The priority legislative measures we have crafted are consistent with the President’s social contract with the Filipino people,” Ochoa said.

According to Ochoa, the objectives of the priority legislative agenda are the following: address poverty and promote a healthy, educated, and empowered citizenry; promote productivity, generate employment and promote food sufficiency; encourage more public-private partnerships and promote a competitive policy environment; protect our sovereignty, ensure security and promote the rule of law; and strengthen the capacity of the bureaucracy to govern.

The 32 bills have been sourced from 139 proposed bills put forward by Cabinet officials and 41 by the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce of the Philippines.

Cabinet officials, grouped into five clusters, chose the 32 measures during the workshop.

The heads of the five clusters are Vice President Jejomar Binay, human development; Economic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga Jr., economic development; Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, infrastructure development; Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, rule of law; and Ochoa, good governance.