House to submit 6 priority bills for plenary debates

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives aims to report to the plenary for debates at least six priority measures, including the proposed amendments to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) law and the Anti-Trust Bill in the coming weeks.

Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II said the House leadership has divided the committees into clusters based on economic sector, each led by a deputy speaker.

“The concerned committees have every intention to expedite their work, they have added more scheduled hearings while others are already in the stage of drafting the final version that would be presented to the plenary,” Gonzales told reporters.

Of the 24 priority measures identified by the House, at least six would be in plenary before the end of next month, or at least before Congress adjourns on March 15.

Among the bills being rushed for plenary discussions are the proposed amendments to the BSP Charter, which is pending in the House committee on banks and financial intermediaries; the proposed National Land Use Policy, which is approved at the committee level and now with the appropriations panel to check for funding; and the proposal to define forest boundaries, pending in the committee on national resources.