Lawmakers vow to pass Marcos’ priority bills

MANILA, Philippines — Congressional leaders expressed confidence yesterday that the 20 priority bills of President Marcos would be passed by December.

The status of priority measures was discussed during the third Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting yesterday at Malacañang.

“Both houses of Congress are on track for the December passage of the 20 priority measures requested by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., including the General Appropriations Bill,” Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement.

The President certified as urgent yesterday the proposed P5.768-trillion national budget for 2024.?In a letter addressed Speaker Martin Romualdez, copy furnished to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Marcos invoked Article VI Section 26 of the Constitution in certifying the necessity of the “immediate enactment” of House Bill 8980.?“In order to address the need to maintain continuous government operations following the end of the current fiscal year, to expedite the funding of various programs, projects and activities for (fiscal year) 2024 and to ensure budgetary preparedness that will enable the government to effectively perform its Constitutional mandate,” Marcos said in his certification dated Sept. 20.

The priority measures identified for passage by the end of December include the bill on the national employment action plan; the measure on local government unit classification; proposed Internet Transaction Act; proposed Build-Operate-Transfer and Public-Private Partnership Act; proposed Salt Development Industry Act; the bill on ease of paying taxes; proposed Real Property Evaluation and Assessment Reform Act; proposed Magna Carta for Seafarers and the proposed