GMA pushing for 2008 national budget, JPEPA for 14th Congress

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday outlined her administration’s proposed legislative agenda during the first Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting of the 14th Congress.

The President, in her opening remarks, said the draft P1.227 trillion 2008 national budget, the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) and a proposed national strategy to conserve resources and help arrest climate change are on top of her proposed measures for economic progress.

She described the proposed national budget as an “annual priority” and the ratification of the JPEPA as a “left-over urgent business from the last Congress.”

The JPEPA, which was sealed on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Helsinki, Finland in September 2006 by the President and former Japan Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, was almost ratified by the Senate during the 13th Congress. Issues on possible dumping of toxic wastes by Japan into the Philippines delayed its ratification.

The President is optimistic that during the 14th Congress which opened last July 23, the JPEPA would be ratified as the Japanese government has assured her in her recent visit to Japan that they would care for the environment and not make the Philippines its dumping grounds.

As to the proposed national strategy on resources conservation, the President introduced it in relation with the prolonged dry spell that some parts of the country are experiencing now, particularly northern Luzon.

“Let me introduce the third topic this way: The present water and power shortages due to the dry spell deliver a wake-up call for our generation to urgently embark upon a determined and well-funded wide-ranging strategic initiative to conserve resources even as we strive for development,” she President said.

She instructed the Departments of Energy and Environment, along with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), to work with Congress and key sectors of society to “draw up a package of policies and programs designed to progressively reduce the usage of water and energy per unit of farm, factory and other economic output.”

“We must build up the environment through forest conservation and expansion, to absorb greenhouse gases warming the world, and to enhance our water resources while preventing flooding, erosion and siltation,” the President stressed as she urged all sectors to “work together” to attain a resource-efficient and environmentally-sound development.

Earlier, the President had expressed hope that through the LEDAC meeting, the legislative and executive branches of government could “work together to solve common problems.”

”The people are watching this council with high hopes that everyone is ready to get to work for the nation to move forward toward a modern nation; that everyone is ready to work for economic progress, social justice and peace and order,” the President said while congratulating every legislator present “for your service and dedication to the nation.”

The LEDAC was created under Republic Act 7640 to ensure consistency in coordinating legislative and executive development planning and budgeting.

Among those in attendance were Senate President Manuel Villar, Senators Manuel A. Roxas II, Francisco Pangilinan, Juan Ponce Enrile, Gregorio Honasan and Rodolfo Biazon, House Speaker Jose de Venecia, House Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora, Makati City Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr., Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arrroyo, Paranaque City Rep. Roilo Golez, and Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas.

The Cabinet men in attendance were Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye, and Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., among others.