đˇ Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez
The House of Representatives has approved 10 vital bills covering education, health, agriculture and excise tax.
Lawmakers on a marathon session passed on third and final reading House Bills 11214, 11213, 11198 and 11255.
They also ratified on second reading HBs 11370, 11286, 11317, 11355, 11357 and 11337.
The House okayed HB 11214 or the proposed “Private Basic Education Vouchers Assistance Act,” which seeks to improve public access to quality basic education through the provision of financial assistance to public school students.
The measure expands the government educational subsidies to cover learner expenses from kindergarten all the way to senior high school.
It also provides for the creation of the Bureau of Public Education under the Department of Education (DepEd) to administer, supervise and regulate private basic education institutions, including government assistance and subsidies.
On the other hand, the chamber approved HB 11213 or the proposed âEducation Pathways Actâ to provide young learners the option to graduate after four years of high school or prepare themselves for another two years of pre-university education after high school, if they so choose.
Under the bill, students who complete junior high school may either go for the University Preparatory Program under the DepEd or the Technical-Vocational Program under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
Also unanimously approved were HB 11198, declaring the month of September every year as the “National Bullying Awareness and Prevention Month Act” and HB 11255, mandating the Philippine Postal Corp. to adopt a modernized zone improvement plan code system.
Other bills passed
On second reading, the House approved HB 11370 or the proposed âMagna Carta of Children,â principally authored by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Tingog Partylist Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez.
It aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework that enshrines and protects the rights of children in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, ensuring they receive appropriate care, respect and dignity.
Also passed was HB 11286, which seeks to strengthen the administration of excise tax on tobacco products, cigars, cigarettes, heated tobacco products, vapor products and novel tobacco products.
The bill defines the crime of illicit trade of covered products and imposes penalty for its commission.
Other bills passed were HB 11317, providing an additional ground for cancelling the certificate of candidacy of a candidate and making the acts of a nuisance candidate an election offense; HB 11355, strengthening the Bureau of Animal Industry, and creating for the purpose an Animal Competitiveness Enhancement Fund;
HB 11357, strengthening the Philippine Healthcare System to achieve efficiency and equity and improve public health emergency preparedness; and HB 11337 or the proposed âMagna Carta For Informal Ambulant Vendors.â (WILMA N. YAMZON)
