THREE MEASURES identified as government priorities have been enacted since the 17th Congress opened its third regular session on July 23, the House Rules Committee said in a report.
Among the measures President Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed into law were the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) law and the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
The PhilSys Act and OSHS law were both identified as priority measures by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), while the BOL was certified as urgent.
Two more priority measures, the Amendment of the Social Security System Act and the Coconut Farmer and Industry Development Trust Fund Act, are moving towards enactment after both were ratified by Congress.
Also in advanced stages of legislation are the Enhanced Universal Health Care Act, which is awaiting approval by the Bicameral Conference Committee and the Revised Agricultural Tariffication Act, which the House of Representatives passed on third reading.
The House Committee on Rules reported that within 26 session days, the chamber processed a total of 858 measures.
Of the 293 bills approved, 32 were enacted with eight classified as of national significance, while the other 24 were local bills.
Congress had also transmitted to the Office of the President 41 bills and ratified 16.
The House of Representatives has approved 123 measures on third reading and 33 on second reading.
“We have been able to pass a lot of legislation, almost 400 in the last few months and some very important legislation like the Department of Housing which was announced today and the coco levy and the tariffication of the rice importation and the budget which we passed on time although we had some delays because of the discovered insertions,” Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said in a chance interview on Monday. — Charmaine A. Tadalan
