Palace hopeful Congress will pass all its priority bills this year

The Palace said it is hopeful that the Senate and the House of Congress will pass all its priority bills this year.

"Umaasa ang pamahalaan na hindi bababa sa 18 sa 29 na priority legislative agenda na inihain ng Pangulo at ng administrasyon sa Kongreso noong nakaraang taon ang pormal na maipapasa ng Senado at ng Kamara," said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr.

Coloma was quoting Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) Secretary Manuel Mamba, who coordinates with both the Senate and the Lower House regarding the President's priority bills.

"Isa sa mga panukalang batas na ito ang Bangsamoro Basic Law na siyang magbibigay daan upang maitatag ang Bangsamoro Transitional Assembly bago idaos ang halalan para sa mga opisyal ng Bangsamoro Political Entity sa taong 2016," said Coloma.

The Aquino administration is also proposing to amend some existing laws.

This includes the laws on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT), Road Right of Way for the infrastructure projects, and the shipping industry's Cabotage.

"Ibig din ng pamahalaan na ganap na maisabatas ang Rationalization of Fiscal Incentives, Rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime, Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act, Antitrust Act, National Land Use Act, at ang Strategic Trade Management Act," Coloma added.

According to Secretary Mamba, the government is prioritizing the passing of the Customs Modernization Act which is included in the fiscal reform package, said Coloma.

The government is also proposing for the enactment into law of the designation of the Philippine maritime zone, and archipelagic sea lanes, plus the delineation of specific forest limits of public domain.

"Nais din ng pamahalaan na palakasin ang sistemang panghustisya ng bansa sa pamamagitan ng pagsasabatas ng Whistleblowers Protection Act at ang pagpapatatag ng Witness Protection Program," he added.

Part of the PLLO's priority list is the Act Protecting the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Freedom of Information Act, proposal to proclaim as alienable and disposable land a part of Bantayan Island in Cebu, that will be used as resettlement site for those affected by Typhoon ‘Yolanda. (PCOO News Release)