Ochoa: 13 more priority bills presented by President Aquino to LEDAC
President Benigno S. Aquino III presented on Tuesday 13 additional priority measures to members of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) for inclusion in the administration’s agenda this year.
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said the priority bills had been processed and determined by the Cabinet Clusters. Six of the 13 measures had earlier been announced by the President in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25.
The new proposed measures, on top of the 22 bills submitted during the first LEDAC meeting last February, are consistent with the administration’s policy directions as laid out in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), in pursuit of the Aquino administration’s 16-point agenda or Social Contract with the Filipino People.
“We will assess the progress posted by our common legislative agenda since the time we agreed on a shared set of priorities, as well as the need to deliver on our collective commitment to pass these measures at the soonest possible time,” Ochoa said.
At the same time, the administration also presented to congressional leaders the proposed P1.816 trillion spending package for 2012 as well as the PDP to rally their support for the timely passage of the budget measure.
“We look forward once again to the early passage of the budget so that the government can build on the progress that has already been made,” Ochoa said.
Ochoa thanked the leadership of both chambers of Congress “for their statesmanship and for the cooperation they have extended in forwarding our common legislative agenda. We also want to obtain their input on the other measures we will be proposing during the second LEDAC because pushing this agenda should be a collective, collaborative effort.”
Among the 13 proposed measures are the adequate protection for house help, expansion of science and technology scholarship programs, amendments to the Rural Electrification Law, sin tax, amendments to the Human Security Act and the Data Privacy Act, and the responsible parenthood (RP) bill.
The President’s proposals also include the expanded consumer protection, reorganization of the Philippine statistical system, amendments to the PTV-4 law, provision for the delineation of the specific forest limits of public domain, stiffer penalties for stealing and tampering with government risk reduction and preparedness equipment, and amendments to the Lina Law or the Urban Development Housing Act of 1992.
According to Ochoa, the Executive Department will also make a pitch for the passage of the priority measures previously submitted to LEDAC. Of the 22 measures earlier proposed, three have been enacted into law, namely the GOCC Governance Act of 2011 (Republic Act No. 10149), Rationalizing the Night Work Prohibition on Women Workers (Republic Act No. 10151) and Resetting and Synchronizing the ARMM Elections with the National and Local Elections in 2013 (Republic Act No. 10153).
The 19 other proposed measures are in various stages of processing and review in the legislative mill.
Ochoa also said that Congress had enacted Republic Act No. 10150, which extended the implementation of the Lifeline Rate to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001. This amendment is one of four recommended amendments to the EPIRA Law by the Executive Department.(PCOO)
President Benigno S. Aquino III presented on Tuesday 13 additional priority measures to members of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) for inclusion in the administration’s agenda this year.
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said the priority bills had been processed and determined by the Cabinet Clusters. Six of the 13 measures had earlier been announced by the President in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25.
The new proposed measures, on top of the 22 bills submitted during the first LEDAC meeting last February, are consistent with the administration’s policy directions as laid out in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), in pursuit of the Aquino administration’s 16-point agenda or Social Contract with the Filipino People.
“We will assess the progress posted by our common legislative agenda since the time we agreed on a shared set of priorities, as well as the need to deliver on our collective commitment to pass these measures at the soonest possible time,” Ochoa said.
At the same time, the administration also presented to congressional leaders the proposed P1.816 trillion spending package for 2012 as well as the PDP to rally their support for the timely passage of the budget measure.
“We look forward once again to the early passage of the budget so that the government can build on the progress that has already been made,” Ochoa said.
Ochoa thanked the leadership of both chambers of Congress “for their statesmanship and for the cooperation they have extended in forwarding our common legislative agenda. We also want to obtain their input on the other measures we will be proposing during the second LEDAC because pushing this agenda should be a collective, collaborative effort.”
Among the 13 proposed measures are the adequate protection for house help, expansion of science and technology scholarship programs, amendments to the Rural Electrification Law, sin tax, amendments to the Human Security Act and the Data Privacy Act, and the responsible parenthood (RP) bill.
The President’s proposals also include the expanded consumer protection, reorganization of the Philippine statistical system, amendments to the PTV-4 law, provision for the delineation of the specific forest limits of public domain, stiffer penalties for stealing and tampering with government risk reduction and preparedness equipment, and amendments to the Lina Law or the Urban Development Housing Act of 1992.
According to Ochoa, the Executive Department will also make a pitch for the passage of the priority measures previously submitted to LEDAC. Of the 22 measures earlier proposed, three have been enacted into law, namely the GOCC Governance Act of 2011 (Republic Act No. 10149), Rationalizing the Night Work Prohibition on Women Workers (Republic Act No. 10151) and Resetting and Synchronizing the ARMM Elections with the National and Local Elections in 2013 (Republic Act No. 10153).
The 19 other proposed measures are in various stages of processing and review in the legislative mill.
Ochoa also said that Congress had enacted Republic Act No. 10150, which extended the implementation of the Lifeline Rate to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001. This amendment is one of four recommended amendments to the EPIRA Law by the Executive Department.(PCOO)
Palace says SWS survey is positive indication of strong public support for peace
Malacanang said that the recent survey of the Social Weather Stations showing that majority of Filipinos are hopeful of peace between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is a positive indication of strong public support for peace.
“The June 3-6 SWS survey showing 83 percent of Filipinos are hopeful that peace between the government and the MILF is strong, a extremely positive indication of a peace constituency in our country,” Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
“This hopefulness points to strong public support for the President’s policy of achieving peace in Mindanao on a basis that takes into account justice for all concerned, whether they be Moros, Christians, or Lumads,” he added.
According to the SWS survey, 83 percent of the Filipinos are hopeful that a peace agreement would be reached between the Philippine government and the MILF, with 38 percent are “very hopeful” and 45 percent are “somewhat hopeful.”
Only 17 percent of the Filipinos are not hopeful, 8 percent are “somewhat not hopeful” and 9 percent “not hopeful at all.” The SWS survey was conducted from June 3 to 6, 2011, among 1,200 adults nationwide.
“It is no coincidence that optimism for peace between the government and the MILF is highest in Mindanao, at 59 percent, where everyone knows full well, how much there is to gain by achieving peace,” Lacierda stressed.
“The rest of the country, from the Visayas (38 percent) to Balance Luzon (30 percent) and the NCR at 25 percent, is also very hopeful. Sustained efforts, conducted with sincerity and full political will, can only further build up confidence in the peace process,” he said.
For his part, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang said that Filipinos have a “very good reason” to be optimistic that the peace agreement would be reached.
“We have very good reason to be optimistic after the President‘s visit to Japan and I think the public feels this. There’s a good reason for that optimism na magkakaroon tayo ng malawakang agreement with the MILF before the end of the president’s term,” Carandang said.
President Benigno S. Aquino III met with MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ibrahim in Tokyo, Japan, on August 4 to show the Philippine government’s sincerity in the peace process with the MILF.(PCOO)
“The June 3-6 SWS survey showing 83 percent of Filipinos are hopeful that peace between the government and the MILF is strong, a extremely positive indication of a peace constituency in our country,” Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
“This hopefulness points to strong public support for the President’s policy of achieving peace in Mindanao on a basis that takes into account justice for all concerned, whether they be Moros, Christians, or Lumads,” he added.
According to the SWS survey, 83 percent of the Filipinos are hopeful that a peace agreement would be reached between the Philippine government and the MILF, with 38 percent are “very hopeful” and 45 percent are “somewhat hopeful.”
Only 17 percent of the Filipinos are not hopeful, 8 percent are “somewhat not hopeful” and 9 percent “not hopeful at all.” The SWS survey was conducted from June 3 to 6, 2011, among 1,200 adults nationwide.
“It is no coincidence that optimism for peace between the government and the MILF is highest in Mindanao, at 59 percent, where everyone knows full well, how much there is to gain by achieving peace,” Lacierda stressed.
“The rest of the country, from the Visayas (38 percent) to Balance Luzon (30 percent) and the NCR at 25 percent, is also very hopeful. Sustained efforts, conducted with sincerity and full political will, can only further build up confidence in the peace process,” he said.
For his part, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang said that Filipinos have a “very good reason” to be optimistic that the peace agreement would be reached.
“We have very good reason to be optimistic after the President‘s visit to Japan and I think the public feels this. There’s a good reason for that optimism na magkakaroon tayo ng malawakang agreement with the MILF before the end of the president’s term,” Carandang said.
President Benigno S. Aquino III met with MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ibrahim in Tokyo, Japan, on August 4 to show the Philippine government’s sincerity in the peace process with the MILF.(PCOO)
Aquino introduces amendments to RH Bill
President Benigno S. Aquino III has introduced several amendments to the Responsible Parenthood (Reproductive Health) Bill during Tuesday’s second Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting in Malacañang.
During a press briefing at Malacañang Heroes’ Hall, the President said that upon extensive reflection, the omission of several issues in the controversial bill was done because they were found to be contentious and “not necessary.”
“There are certain provisions that upon reflection are not necessary to achieve the desired aims and that is what we have tried to achieve with the consensus of the processes with the legislature,” the President said.
Among the details deleted from the proposed bill included provisions fixing the ideal number of children to only two and changing the appropriate age for teaching sex education to children at 11 years old or when the child is in grade six or in high school.
Other provisions of the RP Bill that will be amended include giving parents the option to hold sex education talks by themselves and giving church-based hospitals the right to distribute artificial or natural family planning methods within their jurisdiction.
“This provision will be modified so that those that are church-based hospitals can practice their faith in recognition of freedom of religion enshrined under Article 3 of the Constitution,” the President said.
“So there were not less than 10 proposed amendments that will go through the process (in Congress), such as plenary hall debates, but I think we are in agreement that we can fine-tune (the RP/RH bill) to improve the proposed version,” he added.(PCOO)
Aquino says government ready to evacuate Filipino workers in Syria
The Philippine government is prepared to evacuate Filipinos in Syria as it readies a quick response plan, as well as contingency measures in the midst of continuing violence there, President Benigno Aquino said on Tuesday.
“There is a quick response already deployed I don’t know exactly since when, the same with Libya meron na ring quick response team doon,” the President said during a press briefing at Malacanang Palace after the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting on Tuesday.
“There are contingency plans actually being implemented, like getting the necessary vehicles to move them [Filipinos] out,” the President said as a response to questions by reporters about the government’s actions on the Syrian turmoil and whether there’s a need for a forced evacuation of Filipinos.
The major concern with Syria is that there are 17,000 Filipinos working in that country--95 percent domestic helpers, that according to the President are more vulnerable compared to professionals.
Foreign affairs officials assume that Filipino domestic helpers don’t have the ability as professionals to take care of themselves, the President said, adding that unfortunately only very few Filipinos took the opportunity to be repatriated back to the Philippines when the government offered repatriation a few months ago.
The President said he has been in touch with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario who told him that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has raised the alert level to number three. Previously, the DFA put the alert level three only in selected cities in Syria but now it places the entire country to that level.
On Monday, Malacanang called on the Syrian government to peacefully end the continuing violence there.
The U.N. Security Council on August 4 issued a statement condemning the Syrian government's crackdown on protesters and calling for an immediate end to violence by all parties.
Since mid-March, anti-government protesters have taken to the streets across the whole country of Syria demanding reforms.(PCOO)
Aquino’s priority bills to be closely studied by Congress
President Benigno S. Aquino III’s new batch of priority bills presented during the second Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting on Tuesday at Malacañang will undergo close scrutiny by both Houses of Congress.
In a press briefing in Malacañang following the LEDAC meeting, Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Sonny Belmonte agreed that both Houses would dedicate substantial time and effort to study and scrutinize the proposed measures before making any decision.
“I would like to inform the public that we will look at them very closely but we will give every bill a fair hearing and will pass them as soon as possible once we have studied it,” Enrile said.
For his part, Belmonte vowed to give the same “attention to these new sets of laws proposed by and regarded as priority by the President.”
President Aquino on Tuesday submitted 13 additional priority measures on top of the 22 bills submitted to the LEDAC last February.
Among the 13 proposed measures are the adequate protection for house help, expansion of science and technology scholarship programs, amendments to the Rural Electrification Law, sin tax, amendments to the Human Security Act and the Data Privacy Act, and the responsible parenthood (RP) bill.
The President’s proposals also include the expanded consumer protection, reorganization of the Philippine statistical system, amendments to the PTV-4 law, provision for the delineation of the specific forest limits of public domain, stiffer penalties for stealing and tampering with government risk reduction and preparedness equipment, and amendments to the Lina Law or the Urban Development Housing Act of 1992.(PCOO)
Aquino says sin taxes to fund universal healthcare program
President Benigno S. Aquino III said revenues to be collected from taxes on sin products, once Congress passed the proposal, will be used to fund the government’s universal health care program.
“The increase in revenues from sin taxes will be earmarked for funding the universal healthcare,” the President said during a press briefing at the Palace on Tuesday after the Second Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting.
While the government expects around P60 billion revenues from sin taxes, the President said the ultimate aim of the proposal is to cut the consumption of the sin products by Filipinos.
The President acknowledged the economic benefits of the measures for the country as a whole, at times that the US and Europe, are facing economic slowdowns.
The President said there are a lot of details that have to be worked out for the passage of the proposal. Among these are valuation issues because the country has been using valuation based on 1996 figures and numbers are no longer relevant, he added.
The government also wants to simplify the process of collecting the taxes, he said adding that there are also World Trade Organization (WTO) and production method concerns that have to be threshed out.
President Aquino presented 13 additional priority measures to members of the LEDAC for inclusion in the administration’s agenda this year.
Among the proposed measures include the adequate protection for house helps, expansion of science and technology scholarship programs, amendments to the Rural Electrification Law, amendments to the Human Security Act and the Data Privacy Act, and the responsible parenthood (RP) bill.
Also included are the expanded consumer protection, reorganization of the Philippine statistical system, amendments to the PTV-4 law, provision for the delineation of the specific forest limits of public domain, stiffer penalties for stealing and tampering with government risk reduction and preparedness equipment, and amendments to the Lina Law or the Urban Development Housing Act of 1992.(PCOO)
