By Macon Ramos-Araneta
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said among the key measures that were signed into law this year is Republic Act (RA) number 11959, which will pave the way for the construction of specialty health facilities in hospitals managed by the Department of Health in all regions.
“This piece of legislation is really close to my heart. This is a campaign promise fulfilled. I will call them ‘Centers of Hope’ because it will give home to the many sick Filipinos who cannot get the right medical treatment.
Among the other important measures passed this year are: The Public Private Partnership (PPP) Act and The Internet Transactions Act (ITA). The PPP Act will mobilize private resources to finance infrastructure projects related to transportation, healthcare, internet, supply chain and logistics among others. The ITA will provide much-needed protection to consumers in online transactions.
Other key measures are RA number 11939 or An Act Further Strengthening Professionalism and Promoting the Continuity of Policies and Modernization Initiatives in the Armed Forces of the Philippines; RA number 11953 or An Act Emancipating Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries from Financial Burden by Condoning All Principal Loans, Unpaid Amortizations and Interests and Exempting Payment of Tax on Agricultural Lands Awarded under CARP; RA number 11960 or the One Town One Product Philippines Program; RA number11962 or the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, which establishes the National Employment Master Plan and RA number 11961 or the Strengthening the Conservation And Protection of Philippine Cultural Heritage Through Cultural Mapping.
“All of these measures were carefully crafted to benefit Filipinos and the nation. A majority of these new laws are what the administration of President Marcos Jr. laid down either in his latest SONA or in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council or LEDAC,” Zubiri explained.
“We enacted numerous other landmark measures such as the Conservation and Protection of Philippine Cultural Heritage Through Cultural Mapping, RA number 11964 or An Act Institutionalizing The Automatic Income Classification of LGUs, and RA number 11954 or the Maharlika Investment Fund,” he added.
29 bills for PBBM’s signature
According to Zubiri, a total of 29 measures, including the measure that prohibits the “No Permit, No Exam” policy and the proposed expansion of the coverage of the Centenarians Act of 2016, are awaiting the President’s signature.
Other bills of national significance that are awaiting enactment into law are:
- Senate number 2001 or Providing for A New Passport Law, Repealing for The Purpose Republic Act No. 8239, Otherwise Known as The Philippine Passport Act Of 1996;
- Senate number 2221 or Providing for the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers;
- Senate number 2224 or Ease of Paying Taxes Act;
- Senate number 2243 or Strengthening and Revitalizing the Salt Industry in the Philippines and
- Senate number 2426 or Mandating the Formulation, Funding, Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation of a Comprehensive and Multi-Year “Tatak Pinoy” (Proudly Filipino) Strategy, Establishing A Tatak Pinoy Council.
A total of 22 local bills are also awaiting the signature of the President.
Under Zubiri’s leadership, the senators concurred in the ratification of important treaties.
It passed Resolution No. 42, “Concurring in the Ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement”, which is envisioned to widen and enhance trade and investment opportunities for the Philippines, especially with RCEP member-states.
The Senate also concurred in the ratification of the International Labor Organization Convention number 190 or the “Convention Concerning the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work,” which will benefit and protect not only workers in the Philippines but also OFWs against abuse and gender-based violence.
Senators also concurred in the ratification of the Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of His Majesty The Sultan And Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion With Respect to Taxes on Income.
Lastly, the Senate also voted to concur in the Ratification of the Agreement on Social Security Between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the Republic of Korea.
A total of 59 other simple resolutions were adopted under Zubiri’s leadership in 2023.