The House of Representatives is poised to pass key priority measures, including the proposed National Land Use Act and amendments to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), as lawmakers resume session this week and push to finalize legislation ahead of adjournment.
The chamber, under the directive of Speaker Faustino Dy III, is ramping up efforts to secure final approval for measures identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) as urgent priorities.
House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos said Sunday that both the National Land Use bill and the proposed amendments to the 4Ps Act are among the most advanced measures still pending, with only final deliberations needed before passage.
“These are not theoretical proposals anymore. These are measures that have already moved through key stages, and what they need now is sustained floor work so we can bring them across the finish line before adjournment,” Marcos said.
The proposed National Land Use Act seeks to establish a long-delayed framework for land use planning across the country, while the amendments to the government’s flagship conditional cash transfer program aim to strengthen and expand benefits for low-income households.
Marcos noted that the House is entering the final stretch of the First Regular Session with a focus on measures that are already close to approval, building on its output prior to the Holy Week break.
He said the chamber had already passed or advanced 18 out of 52 LEDAC priority measures, reflecting what he described as a disciplined legislative pace.
Among the measures approved by the House are the law resetting the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, as well as the proposed National Center for Geriatric Health, which is now under bicameral conference committee deliberations.
Other LEDAC priority bills passed include amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act aimed at strengthening the Energy Regulatory Commission, the Waste-to-Energy measure, proposed changes to the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act, the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations Act, amendments to the National Building Code, the Blue Economy Act, and the National Reintegration Bill, among others.
Also included are measures on extending the estate tax amnesty period, creating a Department of Water Resources, revising the Bank Deposits Secrecy Law, abolishing the travel tax, promoting digital payments, enhancing access to tertiary education, establishing a Presidential Merit Scholarship Program, and amending the Biofuels Act.
Marcos added that the House leadership is now prioritizing measures that have already cleared major legislative hurdles and are ready for plenary action, including the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act, which has been placed under the Calendar of Business.
Meanwhile, several bills remain under review at the committee level, including the proposed Classroom-Building Acceleration Program and the Right to Information measure, both awaiting input from the appropriations panel.
Other proposals are still undergoing technical working group or committee deliberations. These include amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law, revisions to the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act, the Anti-Fake News and Disinformation bill, proposed changes to the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act, the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act, the Party-list System Reform Act, expanded protections against child sexual abuse and exploitation, and a bill creating an Independent People’s Commission.
Marcos said the House’s performance so far demonstrates its ability to advance both urgent and long-term reforms despite a tight legislative calendar.
“Our job now is to keep the momentum and make sure that the measures that are already close do not get left behind,” he said. “The work has already been done in many of these bills. What we need now is the time and discipline to bring them to final approval.”