Noy: No regular LEDAC meetings

LAGUINDINGAN, Misamis Oriental, Philippines – There will be no regular meetings of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) during the incoming 16th regular session of Congress, President Aquino said here yesterday.

The President added he would bare his legislative agenda for the 16th Congress when he delivers his State of the Nation Address on July 22.

The President said there is no need for quarterly LEDAC meetings, noting that he is “always in touch with the leadership of both chambers of Congress.”

“If there was a need to clarify certain points, then either of the two gentlemen would have brought it to our attention,” he added, referring to the Senate President and the Speaker.

The President also noted that the executive has been “always respectful” of the legislature in listing its priority legislation.

Early this month, Secretary Ricky Carandang of the Presidential Communications Strategic Planning and Development Office said more LEDAC meetings might be held during the 16th Congress to prevent vetoes.

Carandang said Aquino wanted “closer coordination” with his allies in both houses of Congress in the 16th session.

“One of the things he told the lawmakers was, let’s work closer together so that we can move in the same direction altogether,” he said, citing the recent lunch he hosted for his re-elected allies in the House of Representatives.

The President recently vetoed 65 of more than 200 local bills. Several key legislations, like the Magna Carta for the Poor and the Centenarian Act were also vetoed, citing non-availability of funds, impracticality of implementation and unconstitutionality.

“We understand the hard work that goes into the passage of a bill and the President does not like vetoing bills. But, in certain cases, he felt that the national interest would be served by vetoing bills,” Carandang said.

There have only been three LEDAC meetings since Aquino assumed office in June 2010 – two in 2011 and one in 2012.

LEDAC meetings were more regular and usually held every quarter during the term of former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

‘Better coordination’

Meanwhile, Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) chief Manuel Mamba said he expects better coordination with the Senate once Sen. Franklin Drilon becomes the Senate President.

While denying accusations of failing to coordinate with Congress on legislative concerns, Mamba vowed to be more visible in the 16th Congress.

Mamba said it is up to the President if he will keep his post. “I serve at the pleasure of the President. I am ready to go if told to do so,” he said.

He said he confided his predicament to the President but was told to remain in his post.

“The President is very meticulous. He is not satisfied with just one or few ideas. He will ask for further inputs of concerned agencies. He really studies them carefully before he signs them into law,” Mamba said of the vetoed bills.

Legarda, Sotto report accomplishments

In a related development, Sens. Loren Legarda and Vicente Sotto III have reported their accomplishments for the 15th Congress.

Legarda said she was able to push for the ratification of 16 international agreements, including the two Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties with the United Kingdom and with the People’s Republic of China.

Legarda said several other treaties were passed in the past two years since she became chair of the Senate committee on foreign relations. These include the Philippines-Japan Agreement on Technical Cooperation and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Rome statute allows the ICC to step in when countries are unwilling or unable to dispense justice in cases of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression.

The ratification of the statute paved the way for Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago’s election as ICC Judge for a term of nine years.

Legarda said the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture was also ratified.

Meanwhile, Sotto said the rules committee under his chairmanship reported out 711 bills, of which 42 nationally significant bills were passed into law. He said 42 other measures are awaiting signature by the President.

Sotto said the Senate also upgraded its information system to ensure the electronic filing of bills, live streaming of Senate sessions and the use of video conferencing during sessions and committee hearings.

Three special committees – select oversight committees on suffrage, local government code and government procurement on bases conversion; economic affairs; intelligence and confidential funds, and the joint congressional oversight committee on public expenditure – were also created in the 15th Congress.

Erratum

Acting Senate President Jinggoy Estrada also had perfect attendance during the 15th Congress.

The Senate Journal Service said their records showed that Estrada, who is also Senate President Pro Tempore, was not absent for three days as earlier reported.

Estrada was also never late in all the 214 session days during the past Congress. Our apologies. – With Christina Mendez, Charlie Lagasca