MANILA, 27 May — The government may be bankrupt as President Gloria Arroyo likes to claim, but nevertheless it managed to pass 131 new laws during her four-month old administration, a report from the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) boasted.
The OPS said all these were consistent with Ms. Arroyo’s thrust of economic stability and good governance.
In a report to the Cabinet, Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) head Gabriel Claudio said these new laws consisted of 20 measures of national applications, 16 converting municipalities into component cities, 24 granting legislative franchises, and 71 other laws of local significance.
Claudio said the 20 national laws were on environmental protection, economic development, political stability, and social welfare and development.
He also reported the other priority measures and legislative proposals of the Arroyo administration which are pending or in advanced stages at the legislative mill.
It can be recalled that President Arroyo convened the first Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) Meeting on Feb. 6, 2001 shortly after she assumed office.
A set of priority bills under what is called the LEDAC common legislative agenda was presented during that meeting.
Claudio said that in the exercise of her constitutional prerogative, the President vetoed four proposed laws, the Upgrading of the Court of Tax Appeals, the Lateral Attrition of Personnel of Revenue Generating Agencies, and two franchise applications.
Despite the efforts of the new leadership in pushing for the approval of as many bills during the final stretch of the 11th Congress, Claudio noted that 11 out of the 16 items in the common agenda remain pending in various stages of legislation.
The PLLO chief pointed out that the ones pending in the bicameral committee are the Power Sector Reform Act or the Electric Industry Act, and the Protection For Layout Designs of Integrated Circuits.
Claudio said one of those approved by Congress was the Amendments to the New Central Bank Act which contains anti-laundering provisions; the Sustainable Management of Forest Resources, and the Plant Variety Registration and Protection Act The General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 has been frozen in favor of a supplemental budget proposal.
On the other hand, Claudio said Amendments to the Omnibus Investment Code aimed at providing incentives to the foreign investors is now pending in the Senate Committee chaired by Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.
The Tariff Rates Adjustment for Certain Tariff Headings is also pending in the Senate committee.
Claudio said the public works and highways infrastructure program addresses one of the thrusts enunciated by the President - the need for infrastructure support for the country’s tourism objectives.
The Restructuring of the Department of Agrarian (DAR) Reform Adjudication Board has been approved by the House but now pending in the Senate.
The National Metrology Act has been approved on second reading by the House and ready for Senate floor sponsorship while the Ratification of the Acceptance of the Fifth Protocol to the General Agreement on Trade and Services is also ready for Senate floor consideration.
Claudio said President Arroyo will have the opportunity to present to the 12th Congress the administration’s legislative agenda during her State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 23.
