Manila: Half of the 52 priority bills of the current administration were approved and passed by the House of Representatives during the First Regular Session of the 20th Congress. The priority bills agreed upon in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) contain structural reforms that would support the programs of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. "We will work on approving the rest in the course of our Second Regular Session," Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos of Ilocos Norte's First District said in a news release Sunday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Rep. Marcos emphasized the importance of streamlining the implementation of laws to ensure that the public can easily access government programs and benefits. Among the 52 priority bills, 21 have been successfully approved, while one, the Cybersecurity Act, is in the calendar of business. Another bill, concerning the disqualification of relatives of officials up to the fourth degree in government contracts, is awaiting a committee report.

Nine additional bills are currently with the Committee on Appropriations for comments or transmittal. These include measures on modernizing the Bureau of Immigration, amendments to the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program. Other bills focus on the reprogramming of the Seal of Good Local Governance, modernizing the civil registration system, and the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability Act, among others.

The remaining 15 bills are undergoing technical working group or committee deliberations. These include amendments to the Universal Health Care Act, the introduction of an excise tax on single-use plastics, and changes to the Rice Tariffication Law. Other significant proposals involve creating the Independent People's Commission, amendments to the Fisheries Code, and reforms to the Party-list System.

Rep. Marcos's announcement highlights the continued legislative efforts to fulfill the administration's agenda and implement reforms across various sectors. The focus remains on ensuring legislative efficiency and transparency to benefit the citizens of the Philippines.