Economic reforms top House agenda

MANILA, Philippines - Socio-economic reform measures would likely be the focus of the House of Representatives in the 15th Congress’ second regular session that opens on July 25, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. bared yesterday.

President Aquino will deliver his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25 where he is expected to set the direction of his government for the next 12 months.

“The President’s SONA message will surely guide us during the coming regular session. In the meantime, the priorities set during the first Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) will be pursued, aside from our own priorities at the House of Representatives,” Belmonte said.

The Speaker earlier disclosed that Aquino intends to submit the proposed P1.816-trillion General Appropriations Act for 2012 to the House immediately after his SONA address or as early as practicable to give Congress ample time to fully dissect and appreciate the proposed national outlay.

“We are all agreed on the merits of having to enact a national budget in time and avoid the scenario of having to resort to a re-enacted budget. We were able to do it last year and we intend to do even better this year,” he said.

The first regular session saw the enactment of seven national measures and one joint resolution, the latest of which were the resolution extending the life of the joint congressional Power Commission under Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, and the synchronization of elections, including those of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Among the LEDAC-set economic priorities, which the House leadership has focused into and now in their advance stages in the legislative mill are: the Anti-Trust Act that aims to promote competitiveness; the Fiscal Incentives Rationalization Act; the Government Procurement Reform Act; the National Land Use Act; the Land Administration Reform Act; and the Public-Private Partnership Infra Development Act.

In the area of good governance are the following: the amended Witness Protection Act and the Whistleblowers’ Protection Act. The proposed Universal Healthcare Act, meanwhile, promotes social reform focusing on health delivery.

“These priority measures of the President enumerated during his first SONA are set to be calendared for plenary action as soon as the second regular session begins,” Belmonte said.