Senators filed their priority bills on economic recovery on the second day of the turnover of the new administration to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The suspension of the imposition of value-added tax (VAT) and excise tax on fuel was among the first 10 bills filed by Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.
Sen. Imee Marcos also filed a similar bill that grants the President the power to suspend the imposition of VAT on petroleum products. She likewise sought the Pandemic Protection Act, exemption of migrant workers from payment of Philhealth premiums, and Doubling Farmers’ Income Act.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said majority of his first 10 bills are focussed on the labor sector. He stressed his priority bills will help our workers look for jobs and will guarantee a fair and decent wage for them.
Among his bills are the Act Providing Indigent Job Applicants 20% Discount in Payment of Fees and Charges for Certain Certificates and Clearances Issued by Government Agencies and an Act Regulating the Compensation of Public Utility Drivers and Conductors by Requiring Bus Operators to Pay them Fixed Monthly Salaries.
Senator Lito Lapid iled his priority bills- Monthly Social Pension for Indigent Persons with Disability Act, Free Professional Examinations Act, Tourist Protection and Assistance Act, Climate Resilient Agriculture Act and Medical Bill Transparency Act.
Sen. Bong Go filed bills for Free Annual Medical Checkup, Comprehensive Dialysis Benefit Package, Advanced Nursing Education, Center for Disease and Prevention Control, Virology Science and Technology of the Philippines, Emergency Medical Services Act, Barangay Health Workers Benefits and Compensation and Drug Abuse Treatment ahd Rehabilitation Centers.
Sen. Sonny Angara filed the following: Exports and Investments Development Act, Underprivileged Students Discount Act of 2022, Poverty Reduction through Social Entreprenuership, Magna Carta for Workers in Informal Economy, Domestic Bidders Preference Act.
Senators Joel Villanueva and Risa Hontiveros, who both won a fresh mandate in the last elections, meanwhile filed the anti-endo bills or the End of Endo Act (Security of Tenure in the Private Sector).
Sen. Loren Legarda meanwhile was the first among the 24 incumbent and newly-elected senators to file priority bills.
Legarda filed her first ten proposed legislative measures in the 19th Congress today.
The proposed measures that she filed are the following:
Senate Bill No. 1: One Tablet, One Student Act
Senate Bill No. 2: Magna Carta of Public School Teachers
Senate Bill No. 3: Magna Carta for Private School Teacher
Senate Bill No. 4: An Act Upgrading the Minimum Salaries of Public
School Teachers and Personnel
Senate Bill No. 5: Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs)
Senate Bill No. 6: Technical Education, Training and Certification Act of 2022 and Skills Development Authority (TESDA);
Senate Bill No. 7: BEESO Bill Service Office (PEESO), and to establish the Barangay Employment and Entrepreneurship Service Office (BEESO) nationwide;
Senate Bill No. 8: Pangkabuhayan Bill
Senate Bill No. 9: Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) Law of 2022
Senate Bill No. 10: Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) Remittance Protection Act of 2022