JUNE 7, 2012 DATE

NR # 2763C
REF. NO.

Bago ang sine die adjournment, sin tax reform bill inaprubahan ng Kongreso
Simula sa unang regular na sesyon, may kabuuang 3,387 bills at resolutions para malampasan nito ang record na 27 measures per session sa 128 session days, o 38% sa lahat ng panukala na inihain sa 15th Congress ang pinakamataas na performance rate buhat ng mag-umpisa ang Congress noong 1987. Inaprubahan din ang sin tax reform. Sa ulat ng House secretariat may kabuuang 253 ang panukalang ipinasa na may kaugnayan sa interes ng bansa, 16 dito ang naisabatas na at nakatakdang lagdaan ng Pangulo at ang iba naman ay nakabinbin sa Senado. Inaprubahan din ang 556 local bills at 1,458 resolutions, 1,180 of which were resolutions of inquiries in aid of legislation. The resolutions on inquiries touched on a wide spectrum of national issues that needed the mobilization of Congress oversight powers. The House passed 15 measures listed as priority of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac), five of which are now Republic Acts. Taking pride in the quality of legislative measures passed, the Speaker noted measures passed that focus on sustaining economic growth, good governance, and measures covering direly needed social and other welfare services. In the economic field, the landmark measures include: The Investments and Incentives Code; The Customs Modernization and Tariff Act; The Lifeline Power Rate Act; The Government Employees Entrepreneurship Act of 2011; Real Property Valuation Reform Act; The Subdivision and Condominium Buyers Protection Act amendments; The Micro Enterprise Development Act; The Act Strengthening the Anti-Money Laundering Law; The Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Act; The Rationalization of Taxes on International Air Carriers Act; and The Corporate Responsibility Act. In the area of good governance, the House initiatives include: The Data Privacy Act; The Anti-Cybercrime Act; Anti-Terrorism Financing Act; Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act; The ARMM Synchronized Elections Act; The Philippine Maritime Zones Act; the Whistleblowers Protection Act; The Department of Information Technology Act; and The Act conferring on Members of Municipal, City and Provincial Sanggunians the appropriate Civil Service Eligibility. The Witness Protection Act is expected to be passed on final reading as soon session resumes in July this year after the much awaited State-of-the-Nation Address of President Benigno Aquino III at the opening of the 3rd regular session. There is also the Magna Carta for the Poor which has been approved on second reading. Belmonte also mentioned in an ambush interview after adjournment that the controversial RH, FOI and divorce bills will be part of the agenda for the next regular session. (30) eag