Manila: Bills aimed at restoring public trust, lowering the cost of living, improving public services, expanding economic opportunities, and strengthening the country's long-term growth and resilience are among the 33 measures prioritized by the government for passage, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said Friday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the proposed measures are in the Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) approved by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) during its fourth meeting on Thursday, which was presided over by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. LEDAC is a high-level consultative advisory council that aligns the legislative and executive branches' common agenda to fast-track priority laws and programs.
'The reprioritized CLA reflects the Administration's focus on reforms that Filipino families can actually feel in their daily lives: lower costs, better services, stronger livelihoods, and more opportunities to get ahead,' said DEPDev Secretary and LEDAC Secretariat Head Arsenio Balisacan. The Marcos administration renewed its call to restore public trust by strengthening institutions, upholding accountability, and enhancing fiscal responsibility.
Key priority measures include the Anti-Political Dynasty Law and the Party-List System Reform Act, which seek to broaden democratic representation, reinforce institutional integrity, and help ensure that public office remains accountable to the Filipino people. LEDAC is also pushing for the passage of the Promoting Growth, Revenue, and Equity towards Socio-Economic Sustainability (ProGRESS) bill, which seeks to increase Filipino workers' take-home pay and support micro and small enterprises through income tax cuts.
It also endorsed the General Tax Amnesty and Travel Tax Abolition measures to provide tax relief, encourage compliance, and spur economic activity. Also part of the priority measures include proposed bills that aim to reduce utility costs, strengthen competition, and promote a more resilient and sustainable energy system.
As mentioned by the President during his fifth State of the Nation Address, the LEDAC is seeking the passage of the proposed amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) to lower electricity costs by prohibiting the pass-through of system loss charges and the associated value-added tax (VAT) to consumers, while strengthening the Energy Regulatory Commission's capacity to deepen market competition, improve market efficiency, and ensure fair and transparent electricity pricing.
The proposed Sariling Kuryente Act also seeks to empower households to generate their own electricity through simplified and accessible installation of rooftop solar panels and battery storage systems. DEPDev said LEDAC is also pushing for the Expanded National Nutrition Program that will strengthen interventions from pregnancy through adolescence to help ensure that children are healthy and ready to learn.
The Classroom-Building Acceleration Program Act and the Basic Education Voucher Program Act will likewise help expand access to safe, adequate, and supportive learning environments. 'This is an important moment to build on our economic gains and advance reforms that make our institutions more accountable, our economy more competitive, and public services more responsive. With the priorities identified, the focus is now on strong Executive-Legislative collaboration to secure their passage and deliver meaningful results,' Balisacan said.
