Philippine gov’t submits 30 priority bills to congress for approval

Manila – The Philippine government unveiled on Wednesday 30 priority bills that the executive branch wants Congress to pass soon.

Among the bills of the most concern are the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill that was first included in the priority measures of the administration in 2013, the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law which aims to create the Bangsamoro political entity that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the 2015 budget.

Also included in the 2014 priority measures were the Fiscal Incentives Rationalization Bill which aims to provide a clearer incentive to businesses, the removal of investment restrictions in the Foreign Investment Negative List (FINL), the competition law and the rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said there is no date yet as to when the next Legislative – Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting would be held, but the president, through his cabinet members, could exert efforts to ask Congress to pass the priority measures. Source: Xinhua