House approves 8 national bills

MANILA, Philippines -  The House of Representatives has approved on second reading eight national bills even as lawmakers continue to debate on the proposed P2.006-trillion national budget for 2013.

The passage of the bills came before the Social Weather Stations (SWS) released its latest survey showing record high ratings of the chamber and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

The House plenary terminated debates on the budget of the Department of Agriculture last Thursday and worked on the approval on second reading of the bills before resuming deliberations on the proposed national outlay on Friday.

Approved on second reading were the following: House Bill 6545 or the National Land Use and Management Act of the Philippines; HB 6548 or the “Agriculture and Fisheries Mechanization Law”; HB 6547 or “Establishing at least One Special Education (SPED) Center for each school division and at least three SPED centers in big school divisions for children with special needs”; HB 6546 or “Providing for the modernization of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration”; HB 6544 or “Rationalizing and strengthening the Probation System; HB 6538 or “Regulating the Education and Licensure of Physicians and the Practice of Medicine in the Philippines”; and HB 6542, amending the Overseas Absentee Voting Law.”

The House also approved on second reading amendments to Republic Act 9520, otherwise known as the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008, to strengthen the loan portfolio of cooperative banks by allowing foreign investments that would significantly improve its capacity to support economic projects in the countryside.

Belmonte vowed to work harder in passing urgent priority socio-economic measures.

Meanwhile, the Senate has approved on third and final reading Senate Bill 3125, which seeks to strengthen the career executive service (CES) in the government and protect it from political interference.

The CES is comprised of the senior managers and executive officers of the government, who constitute the “third level” in the Career Service System. – Christina Mendez