The House of Representatives has passed 17 priority measures of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. before the session adjourned, House Speaker Martin Romualdez announced on Wednesday, Dec. 13.
"In his second State of the Nation Address last July 2023, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. mentioned 17 priority measures needed to sustain our economic recovery and improve the living conditions of our countrymen. It is our great pride to report that we report all 17 SONA priority measures, seven months ahead of schedule before the President's next SONA in July 2024," Romualdez said in his speech.
Kamara, nag-adjourn na para sa Christmas break; mga accomplishment ng kapulungan, ibinida | RH 12 @milkyrigonan #MBCNetworkNews#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
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He also highlighted that four out of the measures identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council were signed into law this year.
The four include the National Employment Master Plan or the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, the Local Government Unit Automatic Income Classification Act, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code of the Philippines, and the Internet Transactions Act of 2023.
"Other important bills we passed this year, which eventually enacted into law, include the debt condemnation of agrarian beneficiaries, establishing the Maharlika Investment Fund, extending the period of availing of estate tax amnesty, establishing specialty centers in DOH [Department of Health] hospitals in every region, institutionalizing the one town, one product program, and protection and welfare of caregivers," the House Speaker said.
Romualdez also emphasized that Congress passed early the General Appropriations Bill, which contains the ₱5.768 trillion national budget for fiscal year 2024.
"The House of Representatives considers it a core mission to utilize the national budget next year to address four major concerns: fighting inflation, keeping the price of rice and other basic food at very affordable levels, providing more jobs and livelihood, and expansion of social services," he said.
The House of Representatives will resume session on January 22, 2024.
