MANILA — The House of Representatives has approved a total of 327 measures on third reading under the leadership of Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. said Thursday.
In a statement, Andaya said of the 327 bills approved on final reading, three are included in the legislative agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte: Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Fund (House Bill No. 5745), Rice Tariffication (HB 7735), and Trabaho Bill (HB 8083).
Andaya also noted that four legislative measures were enacted into law under Arroyo’s watch since July 23.
These laws are Republic Act (RA) No. 11055, which establishes a Filipino Identification System; RA 11058, which strengthens compliance and health standards of Filipino workers; RA 11057, which strengthens the legal framework for the creation, perfection, determination of priority rights, and enforcement of security interests in personal property, and the establishment of a notice registry; and RA 11059, which establishes a retirement benefit system in the Office Ombudsman.
Andaya vowed that the House would continue working on Duterte’s legislative priorities, particularly the draft federal charter.
“The House committees will continue to work during the break to finalize and fine-tune bills so that these will be ready for plenary discussion or approval when it resumes work on Nov. 12,” Andaya said.
The Lower House on Wednesday recommitted Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 15 to amend the transitory provision that skips over the Vice President in the line of succession to the presidency.
Cebu City Rep. Raul del Mar moved to return the proposed new Constitution to the House constitutional amendments committee to make the Vice President the successor of the President during the transition period to federalism.
The controversial provision states: “In case a vacancy arises by reason of removal, resignation, permanent incapacity or death of the incumbent President, the incumbent Senate President shall have been chosen and qualified.”
Andaya submitted an amendment to the committee to replace the word “Senate by the word “Vice.”
RBH 15 was sponsored before the plenary on Monday afternoon. (Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA)
