House Speaker: Anti-POGO, expanded senior benefits among final bills to be tackled in 19th Congress
Metro Manila, Philippines - The House of Representatives is set to tackle the remaining key measures for final reading once session resumes for the final stretch of the 19th Congress on Monday, June 2, Speaker Martin Romualdez said.
“Panahon na para tapusin ang mga naiwan nating trabaho (It's time to finish the work we left behind)…and we intend to make every day count,” Romualdez said in a statement on Sunday, June 1.
Among the measures up for final reading are the Anti-Offshore Gaming Operations Act or the Anti-POGO bill (House Bill No. 10987) which seeks to outlaw POGOs and prohibit offshore gambling operations in the country.
Another is the Philippine Civil Registry Act (HB 11359) which updates the “antiquated system” of recording civil status information.
Other measures up for final approval include:
HB 11430, the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act
- HB 11395, the AICS Act institutionalizing emergency assistance for individuals in crisis
- HB 11400, the proposed expansion of senior citizen benefits and privileges
“Let us move decisively on these bills. Bawat isa sa kanila ay may direktang epekto sa buhay ng mga Pilipino, mula sa kaligtasan ng komunidad, hanggang sa karapatan at benepisyo ng ating mga senior citizens,” Romualdez said.
[Translation: Let us move decisively on these bills. Each has a direct impact on the lives of Filipinos, from the safety of the community, to the rights and benefits of our senior citizens.]
As the 19th Congress enters its final weeks, Romualdez reminded lawmakers of their duty to defend democratic institutions.
“We started strong, and we will end strong,” the speaker said.
Since the opening of the 19th Congress, the House of Representatives has approved 61 Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) bills out of 64 measures.
The remaining three are the National Defense Act, the Budget Modernization Bill, and amendments to the Agrarian Reform Law.
