THE Marcos administration has identified 33 priority measures for passage under its updated legislative agenda, including proposals aimed at strengthening governance and supporting economic growth.
The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) confirmed that the measures form part of the reprioritized Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) approved by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) during its fourth meeting under the 20th Congress last week.
The reprioritization comes as only two of the 53 measures earlier endorsed by Ledac have been enacted into law a year into the 20th Congress.
The meeting, presided over by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., grouped the priority measures under four areas: governance and anti-corruption reforms; economic growth and resilience; energy security and sustainability; and education, health, and social protection.
Among the measures endorsed for priority passage are the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Law and amendments to the Party-List System Act, which the government said are intended to strengthen accountability and representation in public office.
Economic measures, meanwhile, include the proposed Promoting Growth, Revenue, and Equity towards Socioeconomic Sustainability (Progress) bill, which seeks to reduce income taxes to raise workers’ take-home pay and provide tax relief to micro and small enterprises.
The council also included the proposed General Tax Amnesty and the abolition of the travel tax in its priority list.
DepDev Secretary and Ledac Secretariat Head Arsenio M. Balisacan said the revised legislative agenda was intended to focus on measures that could have a direct impact on households and businesses.
‘The reprioritized CLA reflects the Administration’s focus on reforms that Filipino families can actually feel in their daily lives: lower costs, better services, stronger livelihoods, and more opportunities to get ahead,’ Balisacan said.
Energy, social measures
Several energy-related proposals were also included in the agenda, including the amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira).
Under the proposed changes, system loss charges and the corresponding value-added tax (VAT) would no longer be passed on to electricity consumers.
The amendments would also seek to strengthen the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)’s authority over the power sector, with the government citing the need for stronger competition and greater transparency in electricity pricing.
Another priority measure, the proposed Sariling Kuryente Act, would ease requirements for households seeking to install rooftop solar panels and battery storage systems.
In the social sector, the government is pushing for measures addressing malnutrition, classroom shortages, and access to basic education.
These include an Expanded National Nutrition Program covering interventions from pregnancy through adolescence, as well as the proposed Classroom-Building Acceleration Program Act and Basic Education Voucher Program Act.
Balisacan said the identification of the 33 measures would now require closer coordination between the executive branch and lawmakers to secure their passage.
‘This is an important moment to build on our economic gains and advance reforms that make our institutions more accountable, our economy more competitive, and public services more responsive,’ he also said.
Ledac, established under Republic Act 7640, serves as the President’s advisory body on priority policy and legislative matters to support long-term national development.
DepDev has served as its principal secretariat since 1992.