11 LEDAC priority bills signed last year – Palace

MANILA, Philippines — Eleven priority bills of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) were enacted last year, including measures that seek to generate additional revenues, assert the country’s maritime rights and attract more investors.

The measures were among the more than a hundred laws signed by President Marcos in 2024 that Malacañang described as “highly valuable and aligned with the government’s pursuit of national progress.”

“The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. remains on track in achieving its legislative agenda of further expanding the Philippine economy while protecting the welfare of Filipinos and the country’s interests,” the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.

Among the LEDAC priority bills that were enacted this year was the measure that subjects local and foreign digital service providers to a 12 percent value added tax (VAT).

The law aims to strengthen and streamline the authority of the Bureau of Internal Revenue to collect VAT on digital services like digital media, digital music, digital video games, video-on-demand and digital ads.

Also signed into law was the Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming Act, which seeks to protect consumers from financial cybercrimes like online selling and investment scams, phishing and other fraudulent schemes.

Marcos also signed the New Government Procurement Act to make public procurement practices at par with international standards, address loopholes in the system and prevent wastage.

To implement the Philippines’ maritime laws and jurisdiction in the face of the West Philippine Sea row, the President signed the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act.

The Maritime Zones law identifies the archipelagic baselines under the 2009 Philippine Baselines Law as the basis upon which the maritime zones of the country are measured.

The Archipelagic Sea Lanes Law, meanwhile, defines the sea lanes that ships may legitimately take within Philippine waters to protect the country’s sovereignty.

The administration also enacted the Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act to support the local defense industry.

Investments-related priority measures that became laws this year were the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy or CREATE MORE Act, which seeks to improve the ease of doing business and boost the competitiveness of tax incentives; Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program Act and the Enterprise-Based Education and Training Program Act, which aim to produce a competitive workforce.

Two of the priority bills that became laws are seen to benefit the farm sector, namely the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act and the Agricultural Tariffication Act. The laws are expected to fortify support for Filipino farmers and also protect consumers from unjust increases in prices of basic commodities, the PCO said.

Marcos also signed into law measures that are not among the LEDAC priorities but are in line with his development agenda.

They include the No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act; the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, which grants public school teachers teaching allowances; the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act; the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, which aims to construct safe evacuation centers in every city and municipality, and the Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters Emergencies Act.

The rest of the enacted measures were local laws, including those establishing marine hatcheries and hospitals, converting schools, creating court branches and declaring holidays.