The Common Legislative
Agenda
Presented by the Hon. Ronaldo B. Zamora,
Executive Secretary and Chairman
LEDAC Task Force to Prioritize the Common Legislative Agenda
Legislative Executive Development Advisory
Council
16 February 1999
State Dining Room, Malacanang
- In response to the President's directive contained in a
Memorandum from the President, dated 15 October 1998, the
"LEDAC Task Force to Prioritize the Common
Legislative Agenda" convened on 21 January at the
Viewing Room (Ante Room) of Malacanang Palace.
- The Task Force was composed of the following:
On the part of the Executive Branch
Executive Secretary
NEDA Director General
Presidential Legislative Adviser
On the part of the Senate (As designated by the
Senate President)
Majority Leader Franklin Drilon
Minority Leader Teofisto Guingona
On the part of the House (As designated by the
Speaker)
Majority Leader Manuel Roxas II
Minority Leader Feliciano Belmonte
Asst. Majority Leader Bellaflor Angara-Castillo
Asst. Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II
- After articulating their respective legislative concerns,
the Task Force members agreed to recommend to the LEDAC
proper a common legislative agenda. The said agenda
consists of ten (10) "absolute" top priority
measures targeted for enactment by the end of the First
Regular Session. Additionally, six (6) other proposed
measures have been identified to complement the Common
Legislative Agenda, also projected for priority
consideration by Congress during its remaining session
days prior to June 3 adjournment sine die.
- Needless to say, the Common Legislative Agenda was culled
from the individual legislative programs of the two
Chambers of Congress and of the Executive Branch. It
includes measures consistent with the Administration's
legislative agenda enunciated by the President in the
1998 SONA and Philippine policy commitments under
international agreements (e.g., Miyazawa Fund, ASEAN and WTO), as well as
multi-sectoral consultations (e.g.,
Economic Monitoring Group).
- Now, the bills in focus:
TOP PRIORITY MEASURES
- Out of the 10 top Drioritv measures, 4 have
been.approved on Third Reading in the Senate, namely:
- Amendments to the Special Economic Zone Act of 1996:
- Authored and sponsored by Sen. Sergio Osmena III, Chair
of Senate Committee on Economic Affairs.
- Its counterpart bill is now on Second Reading.
Principally authored by Majority Leader Manuel Roxas III;
sponsored by Rep. Ralph Recto, Chairman of the House
Committee on Economic Affairs.
- Anti-dumping
- Principally authored by Sen. Juan Ponce
Enrile; and the
- Countervailing Duties
- Principally authored by Sen. Juan Flavier; Both bills
have been ably sponsored on the floor by the Senate Ways
and Means Committee Chairman, Sen. Enrile.
- In the House, the counterpart bills are awaiting the
final consideration by the Committees on Ways and Means
and on Trade and Industry chaired by Rep. Danilo Suarez
and Rep. Marcial Punzalan respectively.
- Securities Regulations and Enforcement Act (a
Philippine commitment to donor countries under the
Miyazawa Fund)
- Principally authored and sponsored by the triumvirate of
Senators Magsaysay, Roco and Serge Osmena.
- Its counterpart bill is presently under deliberation by
the Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries
chaired by Rep. Macario Laurel; it is principally
authored by Rep. Jaime Jacob.
- Three (3) other bills are presently pending in
plenary level in either or both Chambers:
- Clean Air Act
- In the Senate, the bill is now in the Period of
Individual Amendments under the sponsorship of Sen.
Gregorio Honasan. Related bills are individually authored
by Senators Flavier, Robert Jaworski and Loren Legarda.
- In the House, the bill is now going through the final
rounds of interpellation. It is principally authored and
sponsored by Rep. Nereus Acosta.
- Empowerment of the Local Government Units in the
Maintenance of Peace and Order
- In the Senate, the bill awaits approval on Third Reading.
It is authored and sponsored by the Senate President Pro
Tempore Bias Ople, Senate Majority Leader Franklin Drilon, and Senators Barbers, Sotto, Pimentel and
Biazon.
- Its counterpart measure is about ready to be reported out
for Second Reading. Congressmen Gener Tulagan and
Plaridel Abaya are principal authors while Rep. Roilo Golez, Chairman of the Committee on Public Order and
Security is floor sponsor.
- Anti-Racketeering Act (nicknamed "ERAPS"
or Eradication of Racketeers and Powerful Syndicates)
- The bill has just completed floor sponsorship at the
Lower Chamber. It is principally authored and sponsored
by Rep. Roilo Golez.
- In the Senate, related bills authored by Sen. Barbers
along with Sens. Flavier, Coseteng and Guingona are still
pending in the Committee on Constitutional Amendments.
- However, three (3) other top priority concerns
under the Common Legislative Agenda have yet to gain
headway in either Chamber. It should be noted that these
same bills form part of our commitment under the Miyazawa
Fund. These are:
- Amendments to the New Central Bank Act
- In the House, principally authored by Rep. Julio Ledesma
IV and pending in the Committee on Banks and Financial
Intermediaries chaired by Rep. Laurel.
- In the Senate, principally authored by Sen.
Drilon,
pending in the Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions
and Currencies.
- Amendments to the General Banking Act
- In the House, principally authored by Rep. Narciso
Monfort, pending in the Committee on Banks and Financial
Intermediaries.
- In the Senate, principally authored by Sen. Serge Osmena
III, pending in the Committee on Banks, Financial
Institutions and Currencies.
- Electric Power Sector Reform Bill
- In the House, the Administration bill is authored by Rep.
Arnulfo Fuentebelia, chairman of the Committee on Energy.
- In the Senate, related bills are authored by
Sens. Magsaysay, John Osmena, Jaworski and Ramon Revilla.
OTHER PRIORITY MEASURES
- Out of the six (6) additional priorities in the
Common Agenda, three (3) are already in the advance stage
of the legislative process. These are:
- Postponement of the ARMM Elections
- Passed by the House; principally authored and sponsored
by Reps. Didagen Dilangalen and Simeon Datumanong, along
with Rep. Augusto Syjuco, Chairman of the Committee on
Electoral Reform and Suffrage.
- Approved by the Senate on Second Reading last night.
Principally authored -n the Senate by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel.
- Concurrence to the General Amnesty Proclamation
- Already completed by the House under the authorship and
sponsorship of Congressman Anthony Dequina
- Now also awaits commencement of floor consideration in
the Senate under the sponsorship of Sens. Honasan, Biazon
and Magsaysay.
- Mandatory use of Safety Belts
- Passed by the Senate on Third Reading with
Sens. Flavier, Coseteng, S. Osmena and Mirriam Santiago as authors and
Sen. Tito Softo as sponsor
- The filing of the committee report in the House is
expected soon.
- The three (3) other priority bills, which are vital
to our investments Promotion program are all in committee
level in both Chambers:
- Pre-Need Plans Code
- In the House, authored by Rep. Mar Roxas and referred to
the Committee on Trade and Industry under the
Chairmanship of Rep. Punzalan.
- In the Senate, related bills authored by
Sens. Drilon and Guingona, pending in the Committee on Banks under Sen.
Roco.
- Amendments to Retail Trade Law
- In the House, related bills are authored by Reps.
Teves,
Heherson Alvarez, Recto and Ledesma; also pending in the
Committee on Trade and Industry.
- In the Senate, the lone bill is authored by Sen. Serge
Osmena, also pending in the Committee on Trade and
Commerce.
- Incentives to Multi-national Corporations Establishing
Regional Area Headquarters in the Philippines
- In the House, related bills are authored by Reps.
Roxas,
Ledesma and Recto, pending in the Committees on Trade and
Industry and on Economic Affairs.
- In the Senate, related bills are authored by
Sens. S. Osmena, Drilon. and Magsaysay, pending in the Committees
on Trade and Commerce and on Ways and Means.
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