The Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) has reaffirmed its commitment to the Marcos Administration’s legislative agenda by approving new priority measures for the Congress. This significant move, announced by the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), is set to drive the social and economic transformation of the Philippines.
In its inaugural meeting for the Congress, held on Tuesday, September 30, and presided over by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the LEDAC adopted a new Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) comprising priority bills.
DEPDev Secretary and LEDAC Secretariat Head Arsenio M. Balisacan presented a shortlist of 33 proposed measures from executive agencies, which were rigorously evaluated based on their alignment with the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) and the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, as well as their developmental impact, urgency, and readiness for legislation. An additional 11 bills were proposed by the Senate and the House of Representatives, bringing the total to 44.
Two key new priority measures directly stem from President Marcos Jr.’s SONA:
- Amendments to the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act: Seeks to improve the Fund’s absorptive capacity and responsiveness to the needs of coconut farmers.
- Amendments to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act: Aims to guarantee that family-beneficiaries achieve a self-sufficiency level before graduating from the program.
The Council also reaffirmed support for nine key measures carried over from the Congress that are deemed critical for national development. These include the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Bill, the Waste-to-Energy Bill, Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) Amendments, the National Land Use Act, the Blue Economy Act, and Amendments to the Bank Deposits Secrecy Law, among others.
The full legislative agenda for the Congress is comprehensive, spanning vital areas such as:
- Education, Health, and Social Protection
- Agriculture and Food Security
- Good Governance and Transparency
- Economic Competitiveness and Digital Transformation
“We aim to sustain the strong momentum we established during the Congress,” said Secretary Balisacan. “With continued collaboration between the Senate and the House of Representatives, we are confident in our ability to push forward a legislative agenda that delivers meaningful change and a brighter future for all Filipinos.”
The Congress saw priority bills enacted, marking the highest number of measures passed since the Congress under the Ramos Administration. The newly adopted CLA is poised to build upon this legislative efficiency.
