President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law an act declaring the Filipino Sign Language (FSL) as the National Sign Language of the Filipino deaf and the official sign language of the government in all transactions involving the deaf.
Duterte signed last October 30 Republic Act Number 11106, otherwise known as “The Filipino Sign Language Act,” which also mandates the use of FSL in schools, broadcast media, and in workplaces.
“The FSL shall be recognized, promoted and supported as the medium of official communication in all transactions involving the deaf, and as the language of instruction of deaf education, without prejudice to the use of other forms of communications depending on individual choice or preference,” the law states.
The Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), Techinical Education, and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), and all other national and local government agencies involved in the education of the deaf, are tasked to use and coordinate with each other on the use of FSL as the medium of instruction in deaf education.
The law also mandates the University of the Philippines together with the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), professional sign linguistics, and linguistics researchers, in collaboration with the CHEd and DepEd, and the Early Childhood Care Development (ECCD) Council, to come up with guidelines for the development of training materials in the education of the deaf for use by all state universities and colleges, as well as their teachers and staff. /kga
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1052970/duterte-signs-filipino-sign-language-act
Monday, November 12, 2018
Filipino Sign Language declared as nat’l sign language of Filipino deaf
By Genalyn Kabiling
The Filipino Sign Language (FSL) is the national sign language in the country based on a new law signed by President Duterte.
In Republic Act No. 11106, the Filipino Sign Language has been declared as national sign language of the Filipino deaf as well as the official sign language of government in all transactions involving the deaf.
The law, also known as the Filipino Sign Language Act, also mandated the use of the FSL in schools, broadcast media and workplaces.
“The FSL shall be recognized, promoted, and supported as the medium of official communication in all transactions involving the deaf, and as the language of instruction of deaf education without prejudice to the use of other forms of communication depending on individual choice or preference,” the law read.
“The State shall also take all appropriate measures to ensure that the Filipino deaf can exercise the right to expression and opinion. Accordingly, the State recognizes and promotes the use of sign languages embodying the specific cultural and linguistic identity of the Filipino deaf,” it added.
Under the law, the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and other national and local government agencies involved in the education of the deaf have been tasked to start using FSL as the medium of instruction in deaf education.
The FSL will also be taught as a separate subject in the curriculum for deaf learners. The reading and writing of Filipino, as the national language, other Philippine languages, and English shall also be taught to deaf learners.
To promote licensing of deaf teachers, the Professional Regulation Commission and other teacher education programs have been directed to employ alternative assessment procedures to consider the conditions, abilities and social barriers of deaf teachers.
The learning of FSL will also be a curricular in teacher education programs. Regular training and evaluation of deaf teachers have also been ordered.
The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) has also been directed to establish a system of standards, accreditations and procedures for FSL interpreting.
RA 11106 also declared FSL as the official language of legal interpreting for the deaf in public hearings, proceedings and transactions of the courts, quasi-judicial agencies and tribunals.
It will also be the official language of the Filipino deaf employed in the civil service and in all government workplaces.
State hospitals and other health facilities must also provide access to health services, including free provision of FSL interpreters and accessible materials, to deaf patients and their families members. Private health facilities are also urged to extend the same service.
The new law also directed all national agencies and local government units to use FSL as the medium of official commutation in public transactions involving the deaf. FSL interpreters and accessible materials must also be provided whenever necessary.
To guarantee access to information and freedom of expression of the deaf, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) and Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) would require FSL interpreter insets in news and public affairs programs within a year from the effectivity of the law.
The MTRCB has also been directed to take steps to promote the use of FSL in all other broadcasts and programming especially programs designed for children.
An Interagency Council has also been created to monitor and implement the new law.
The law signed on October 30, takes effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or newspaper.
The Filipino Sign Language (FSL) is the national sign language in the country based on a new law signed by President Duterte.
In Republic Act No. 11106, the Filipino Sign Language has been declared as national sign language of the Filipino deaf as well as the official sign language of government in all transactions involving the deaf.
The law, also known as the Filipino Sign Language Act, also mandated the use of the FSL in schools, broadcast media and workplaces.
“The FSL shall be recognized, promoted, and supported as the medium of official communication in all transactions involving the deaf, and as the language of instruction of deaf education without prejudice to the use of other forms of communication depending on individual choice or preference,” the law read.
“The State shall also take all appropriate measures to ensure that the Filipino deaf can exercise the right to expression and opinion. Accordingly, the State recognizes and promotes the use of sign languages embodying the specific cultural and linguistic identity of the Filipino deaf,” it added.
Under the law, the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and other national and local government agencies involved in the education of the deaf have been tasked to start using FSL as the medium of instruction in deaf education.
The FSL will also be taught as a separate subject in the curriculum for deaf learners. The reading and writing of Filipino, as the national language, other Philippine languages, and English shall also be taught to deaf learners.
To promote licensing of deaf teachers, the Professional Regulation Commission and other teacher education programs have been directed to employ alternative assessment procedures to consider the conditions, abilities and social barriers of deaf teachers.
The learning of FSL will also be a curricular in teacher education programs. Regular training and evaluation of deaf teachers have also been ordered.
The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) has also been directed to establish a system of standards, accreditations and procedures for FSL interpreting.
RA 11106 also declared FSL as the official language of legal interpreting for the deaf in public hearings, proceedings and transactions of the courts, quasi-judicial agencies and tribunals.
It will also be the official language of the Filipino deaf employed in the civil service and in all government workplaces.
State hospitals and other health facilities must also provide access to health services, including free provision of FSL interpreters and accessible materials, to deaf patients and their families members. Private health facilities are also urged to extend the same service.
The new law also directed all national agencies and local government units to use FSL as the medium of official commutation in public transactions involving the deaf. FSL interpreters and accessible materials must also be provided whenever necessary.
To guarantee access to information and freedom of expression of the deaf, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) and Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) would require FSL interpreter insets in news and public affairs programs within a year from the effectivity of the law.
The MTRCB has also been directed to take steps to promote the use of FSL in all other broadcasts and programming especially programs designed for children.
An Interagency Council has also been created to monitor and implement the new law.
The law signed on October 30, takes effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or newspaper.
New law mandates use of sign language
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure mandating the use of Filipino sign language in all government transactions, schools, broadcast media, and workplaces in a bid to ensure deaf people's "full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms."
Republic Act (RA) 11106, or "The Filipino Language Act", declares Filipino sign language as the national language of the Philippines that should be "recognized, promoted, and supported as the medium of official communication in all transactions involving the deaf."
Duterte's new law directed the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and other government agencies involved in the education of deaf learners to coordinate with each other on the use of sign language.
Under RA 11106, Filipino sign language should be taught as a separate subject for deaf students. Reading and writing of Filipino, other Philippine languages, and English should also be taught to deaf learners.
The learning of Filipino sign language should also be a curricular or co-curricular in teacher education programs, "as deemed appropriate," the new law noted.
In deaf teachers' case, the Professional Regulation Commissioner was tasked to employ "language-appropriate and culture-fair" procedures, an affirmative action measures that would consider the conditions, abilities, and social barriers of the hearing-impaired educators.
The new law also directed the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, with the involvement of the deaf community and other stakeholders, to establish a national system of standards, accreditations and procedures for Filipino sign language interpreting, without prejudice to other forms of communication that respect the deaf person's right to accessibility.
Under the law, sign language should also be the official language of legal interpreting for the deaf in all public hearings, proceedings, and transactions of the courts, quasi-judicial agencies, and otehr tribunals.
RA 11106 thus ordered quasi-judicial agencies and other tribunals to ensure the availability fo a qualified sign language interpreter in all proceedings involving the deaf "to ensure effective access to to justice for the deaf on an equal basis with others and to facilitate their effective role as direct and indirect participants in the legal system."
The Filipino sign language should also be the official language of the Filipino deaf employed in the civil service and in all government workplaces, Duterte's newly-signed law emphasized.
All government offices were instructed to come up with "reasonable" measures to encourage the use of Filipino sign language among its deaf and hearing employees, which include the conduct of awareness and training seminars on the rationale and use of the sign language.
The new law also mandated state and private hospitals and health facilities to take steps to ensure access of the Filipino deaf to health services by providing free provision of sign language interpreters and other accessible materials.
All government agencies, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, were likewise directed to use Filipino sign language as the medium of official communication in all public transactions involving the deaf.
Qualified sign language interpreters and accessible materials should be prvided "whenever necessary or requested," during government agencies' fora, conferences, meetings, cultural events, sports competitions, community affairs, and acitivities.
The Filipino sign language should also be the language of broadcast media interpreting to "guarantee access to information and freedom of expression of the filipino deaf."
The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) were instructed to require sign language interpreters insets, compliant with accessibility standards for television, in news and public affairs and religious programs.
Subsequently, the MTRCB should take steps to promote progressive use of Filipino sign language in all other broadcasts and programming, especially in educational television programs designed for children, in conjunction with the National Council for Children's Television and the DepEd.
Duterte's RA 11106 also created an inter-agency council, which should consist of one representative each from the Commission on Human Rights, Council for the Welfare of Children, the Philippine Commission on Women, the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino, and the Filipino Sign Language organizations or institutions.
The inter-agency council was ordered to submit an annual report on the monitoring and implementation of the law to the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Duterte signed RA 11106 on October 30, but a copy of the law was released by Malacañang only on Monday, November 12. (SunStar Philippines)
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1773638/Manila/New-law-mandates-use-of-sign-language
Republic Act (RA) 11106, or "The Filipino Language Act", declares Filipino sign language as the national language of the Philippines that should be "recognized, promoted, and supported as the medium of official communication in all transactions involving the deaf."
Duterte's new law directed the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and other government agencies involved in the education of deaf learners to coordinate with each other on the use of sign language.
Under RA 11106, Filipino sign language should be taught as a separate subject for deaf students. Reading and writing of Filipino, other Philippine languages, and English should also be taught to deaf learners.
The learning of Filipino sign language should also be a curricular or co-curricular in teacher education programs, "as deemed appropriate," the new law noted.
In deaf teachers' case, the Professional Regulation Commissioner was tasked to employ "language-appropriate and culture-fair" procedures, an affirmative action measures that would consider the conditions, abilities, and social barriers of the hearing-impaired educators.
The new law also directed the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, with the involvement of the deaf community and other stakeholders, to establish a national system of standards, accreditations and procedures for Filipino sign language interpreting, without prejudice to other forms of communication that respect the deaf person's right to accessibility.
Under the law, sign language should also be the official language of legal interpreting for the deaf in all public hearings, proceedings, and transactions of the courts, quasi-judicial agencies, and otehr tribunals.
RA 11106 thus ordered quasi-judicial agencies and other tribunals to ensure the availability fo a qualified sign language interpreter in all proceedings involving the deaf "to ensure effective access to to justice for the deaf on an equal basis with others and to facilitate their effective role as direct and indirect participants in the legal system."
The Filipino sign language should also be the official language of the Filipino deaf employed in the civil service and in all government workplaces, Duterte's newly-signed law emphasized.
All government offices were instructed to come up with "reasonable" measures to encourage the use of Filipino sign language among its deaf and hearing employees, which include the conduct of awareness and training seminars on the rationale and use of the sign language.
The new law also mandated state and private hospitals and health facilities to take steps to ensure access of the Filipino deaf to health services by providing free provision of sign language interpreters and other accessible materials.
All government agencies, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, were likewise directed to use Filipino sign language as the medium of official communication in all public transactions involving the deaf.
Qualified sign language interpreters and accessible materials should be prvided "whenever necessary or requested," during government agencies' fora, conferences, meetings, cultural events, sports competitions, community affairs, and acitivities.
The Filipino sign language should also be the language of broadcast media interpreting to "guarantee access to information and freedom of expression of the filipino deaf."
The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) were instructed to require sign language interpreters insets, compliant with accessibility standards for television, in news and public affairs and religious programs.
Subsequently, the MTRCB should take steps to promote progressive use of Filipino sign language in all other broadcasts and programming, especially in educational television programs designed for children, in conjunction with the National Council for Children's Television and the DepEd.
Duterte's RA 11106 also created an inter-agency council, which should consist of one representative each from the Commission on Human Rights, Council for the Welfare of Children, the Philippine Commission on Women, the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino, and the Filipino Sign Language organizations or institutions.
The inter-agency council was ordered to submit an annual report on the monitoring and implementation of the law to the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Duterte signed RA 11106 on October 30, but a copy of the law was released by Malacañang only on Monday, November 12. (SunStar Philippines)
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1773638/Manila/New-law-mandates-use-of-sign-language
2019 budget, rice tariff bill top Congress priorities
THE GOVERNMENT’s proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019 and a bill that will slash rice retail prices will be in the homestretch for approval by Congress, which resumes session today, according to lawmakers in separate interviews late last week.
The 17th Congress next takes a break on Dec. 15 to Jan. 21 and returns to work on Jan. 22 to Feb. 8 before adjourning for the May elections. It then resumes session for the last time on May 20-June 7.
Deputy Speaker Prospero A. Pichay, Jr. said in a telephone interview on Saturday that the 2019 “budget” will be first among priorities, adding: “By next week, we’ll pass it on third reading.”
The chamber had passed on second reading House Bill (HB) No. 8169, or the proposed national budget for 2019, before Congress adjourned on Oct. 13.
House Ways and Means Committee chairperson Estrellita B. Suansing of Nueva Ecija’s 1st district said next in her sights are the proposed tax amnesty and mining tax reform measures that should be approved by yearend.
She said much remains to be done with the tax amnesty proposal, however, saying by phone: “ibabalik ko sya sa (I will return the bill to a) technical working group” for refinement.
“Target na matapos siya sa third and final itong session na ‘to, so meaning up to December (The target is to approve the bill on third and final reading by Dec. 14),” she said, adding that the same deadline will be observed for HB 8400, which gives government a bigger share in mining revenues, which the chamber approved on second reading last month.
The proposed 2019 national budget also tops priorities in the Senate, with Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III saying via text that his chamber may “have to work overtime” to assure December approval if the House does not forward the measure soon.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri said the Senate will also approve the rice tariffication bill — which the House approved in August — on final reading by next week. The bill replaces the current rice import quota system with one that frees up importation by the private sector in a bid to help ease overall inflation.
It is a key measure by the current administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to tame surging inflation that steadied at a nine-year-high 6.7% in October. The measure is expected to slash rice retail prices by P7 per kilogram and inflation by 0.7 percentage point.
“The rice tariffication (bill) is in the period of amendment. Hopefully by next or the next two weeks, we will approve the rice tariffication on third reading since it is a certified measure,” Mr. Zubiri told reporters at a media forum on Thursday last week.
He also committed to ratify the bicameral conference committee report on the universal healthcare bill once both chambers have will have reconciled their differences.
He also cited the Security of Tenure bill, which further restricts use of contractual modes of employment, and proposed Public Service Act amendments that will open up telecommunications to more foreign competition as Senate priorities.
Last week, Mr. Sotto enumerated other Senate priority measures as the proposed amendments to the Human Security Act, Medical Scholarship Act, Mindanao Railways Authority, General Tax Amnesty, Universal healthcare, Budget Reform Act, Rightsizing the National Government, Coconut Levy bill, Fair Elections Act amendments, Government Procurement Act amendments, traffic emergency powers and the Salary Standardization Law.
Mr. Zubiri said other priority measures include the Murang Kuryente (cheap electricity) and the Freedom of Information bills. — Charmaine A. Tadalan and Camille A. Aguinaldo
The 17th Congress next takes a break on Dec. 15 to Jan. 21 and returns to work on Jan. 22 to Feb. 8 before adjourning for the May elections. It then resumes session for the last time on May 20-June 7.
Deputy Speaker Prospero A. Pichay, Jr. said in a telephone interview on Saturday that the 2019 “budget” will be first among priorities, adding: “By next week, we’ll pass it on third reading.”
The chamber had passed on second reading House Bill (HB) No. 8169, or the proposed national budget for 2019, before Congress adjourned on Oct. 13.
House Ways and Means Committee chairperson Estrellita B. Suansing of Nueva Ecija’s 1st district said next in her sights are the proposed tax amnesty and mining tax reform measures that should be approved by yearend.
She said much remains to be done with the tax amnesty proposal, however, saying by phone: “ibabalik ko sya sa (I will return the bill to a) technical working group” for refinement.
“Target na matapos siya sa third and final itong session na ‘to, so meaning up to December (The target is to approve the bill on third and final reading by Dec. 14),” she said, adding that the same deadline will be observed for HB 8400, which gives government a bigger share in mining revenues, which the chamber approved on second reading last month.
The proposed 2019 national budget also tops priorities in the Senate, with Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III saying via text that his chamber may “have to work overtime” to assure December approval if the House does not forward the measure soon.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri said the Senate will also approve the rice tariffication bill — which the House approved in August — on final reading by next week. The bill replaces the current rice import quota system with one that frees up importation by the private sector in a bid to help ease overall inflation.
It is a key measure by the current administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to tame surging inflation that steadied at a nine-year-high 6.7% in October. The measure is expected to slash rice retail prices by P7 per kilogram and inflation by 0.7 percentage point.
“The rice tariffication (bill) is in the period of amendment. Hopefully by next or the next two weeks, we will approve the rice tariffication on third reading since it is a certified measure,” Mr. Zubiri told reporters at a media forum on Thursday last week.
He also committed to ratify the bicameral conference committee report on the universal healthcare bill once both chambers have will have reconciled their differences.
He also cited the Security of Tenure bill, which further restricts use of contractual modes of employment, and proposed Public Service Act amendments that will open up telecommunications to more foreign competition as Senate priorities.
Last week, Mr. Sotto enumerated other Senate priority measures as the proposed amendments to the Human Security Act, Medical Scholarship Act, Mindanao Railways Authority, General Tax Amnesty, Universal healthcare, Budget Reform Act, Rightsizing the National Government, Coconut Levy bill, Fair Elections Act amendments, Government Procurement Act amendments, traffic emergency powers and the Salary Standardization Law.
Mr. Zubiri said other priority measures include the Murang Kuryente (cheap electricity) and the Freedom of Information bills. — Charmaine A. Tadalan and Camille A. Aguinaldo
Budget, mining reform to top House agenda
AS Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo vowed to carry out the legislative agenda of President Duterte in the lower chamber, the House of Representatives is expected to resume its session on Monday with focus on several priority measures.
Arroyo said the House will focus to finish the administration’s legislative agenda, topped by the national budget, as the midterm elections in May 2019 is seen to cut their time frame.
Topping the list of pending key measures on the agenda for deliberations and approval are House Bill 8169, or the proposed “Fiscal Year 2019 General Appropriations Act,” and HB 8400, or “An Act Establishing The Fiscal Regime For The Mining Industry.”
House members have already approved on second reading HB 8169 or the Fiscal Year 2019 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), which provides for a national budget of P3.757 trillion for next year.
The House leadership said the timely approval of the budget ensures there will be no budget reenactment next year.
Mining
Also expected to be passed on third and final reading is HB 8400, seeking to establish the fiscal regime for the mining industry to ensure the government gets its rightful share in profits.
Arroyo led the list of the bill’s coauthors. She closely followed deliberations on the bill both in the committee and the plenary.
Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Estrellita Suansing of Nueva Ecija, citing Department of Finance data, said the government collected total taxes, fees and royalties from the mining industry in the amount of P32.76 billion in 2014, P30.07 billion in 2015 and P33.43 billion in 2016.
Presently, for large mines, mining contracts offer varying fiscal regimes and therefore fiscal burden is differentiated, Suansing said.
“Under this measure there is no more distinction on whether mining exploration is conducted outside or inside a mineral reservation and whether it is large scale or small scale. Equity dictates that fiscal burden should be shared equally by all who explore the natural resources of the country,” said Suansing.
Suansing said the bill shall significantly impact the government’s revenue generation effort, the mining industry’s growth, and the environment, which is under tremendous threat from certain destructive mining practices.
Federalism
Meanwhile, House Committee on Constitutional Amendments Chairman Vicente Veloso of Leyte said the lower chamber will still work hard toward federalism despite opposition of senators.
He said House leaders gave him the go-ahead to continue the Charter change deliberations as part of their job.
The lower chamber earlier adopted House Resolution (HR) 2056 authored by Arroyo, stating, “There is an urgent need to convene the Senate and the House of Representatives as Constituent Assembly in order to consider the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution.”
House members support a Constituent Assembly (Con-ass), saying convening Congress into an assembly will shorten the time needed for Cha-cha.
Arroyo also vowed to facilitate discussions on Cha-cha at the House of Representatives once Congress sits as a Con-ass.
Under the legislative calendar for the third regular session of the 17th Congress, Congress is expected to resume its session on November 12 and adjourn on December 14 for Christmas holidays.
The session will again resume on January 22 to February 8. But it will take another break on February 9 to May 19 for the midterm elections.
After the 2019 midterm elections, Congress will resume from May 20 to June 7 before its sine die adjourment from June 8 to July 21, which is the end of the 17th Congress.
For Senate approval
The House approved on third and final reading and endorsed for Senate approval a total of 125 bills. These comprise 33 national and 91 local measures, and one joint resolution.
After the Senate approves these measures, bicameral conference committee meetings will be conducted to reconcile the differences between the Senate and House versions of the said bills.
Meanwhile, already pending at the bicameral conference are eight measures —five national bills and three local bills. The national bills are HB 7652, “The Mobile Number Portability Act”; HB 6769, “Prohibiting Discriminatory Acts Against Women on Account of Sex”; HB 5615 and SB 1716, “Establishing the National Sports Training Center”; HB 7449, “Appropriating the Sum of P1.161 billion as Supplemental Appropriations for Dengvaxia Vaccinees” which has been certified as urgent; and HB 5162, “Separating General Santos City from the First Legislative District of South Cotabato.”
778 processed measures
The House of Representatives has processed a total of 778 measures, or an average of 31 measures per session day, before Congress adjourned its session on October 10.
This translates to a total of 3,707 measures processed by the House from the opening of the 17th Congress on July 25, 2016.
Of the 778 processed measures during the third regular session, a total of 32 were enacted into law, eight of which were of national significance and 24 of local significance.
Meanwhile, 41 more measures are awaiting the President’s signature to become additional laws.
Apart from these landmark measures, the House ratified 10 bicameral reports, nine of which are of national importance and one of local significance.
Arroyo said the House will focus to finish the administration’s legislative agenda, topped by the national budget, as the midterm elections in May 2019 is seen to cut their time frame.
Topping the list of pending key measures on the agenda for deliberations and approval are House Bill 8169, or the proposed “Fiscal Year 2019 General Appropriations Act,” and HB 8400, or “An Act Establishing The Fiscal Regime For The Mining Industry.”
House members have already approved on second reading HB 8169 or the Fiscal Year 2019 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), which provides for a national budget of P3.757 trillion for next year.
The House leadership said the timely approval of the budget ensures there will be no budget reenactment next year.
Mining
Also expected to be passed on third and final reading is HB 8400, seeking to establish the fiscal regime for the mining industry to ensure the government gets its rightful share in profits.
Arroyo led the list of the bill’s coauthors. She closely followed deliberations on the bill both in the committee and the plenary.
Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Estrellita Suansing of Nueva Ecija, citing Department of Finance data, said the government collected total taxes, fees and royalties from the mining industry in the amount of P32.76 billion in 2014, P30.07 billion in 2015 and P33.43 billion in 2016.
Presently, for large mines, mining contracts offer varying fiscal regimes and therefore fiscal burden is differentiated, Suansing said.
“Under this measure there is no more distinction on whether mining exploration is conducted outside or inside a mineral reservation and whether it is large scale or small scale. Equity dictates that fiscal burden should be shared equally by all who explore the natural resources of the country,” said Suansing.
Suansing said the bill shall significantly impact the government’s revenue generation effort, the mining industry’s growth, and the environment, which is under tremendous threat from certain destructive mining practices.
Federalism
Meanwhile, House Committee on Constitutional Amendments Chairman Vicente Veloso of Leyte said the lower chamber will still work hard toward federalism despite opposition of senators.
He said House leaders gave him the go-ahead to continue the Charter change deliberations as part of their job.
The lower chamber earlier adopted House Resolution (HR) 2056 authored by Arroyo, stating, “There is an urgent need to convene the Senate and the House of Representatives as Constituent Assembly in order to consider the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution.”
House members support a Constituent Assembly (Con-ass), saying convening Congress into an assembly will shorten the time needed for Cha-cha.
Arroyo also vowed to facilitate discussions on Cha-cha at the House of Representatives once Congress sits as a Con-ass.
Under the legislative calendar for the third regular session of the 17th Congress, Congress is expected to resume its session on November 12 and adjourn on December 14 for Christmas holidays.
The session will again resume on January 22 to February 8. But it will take another break on February 9 to May 19 for the midterm elections.
After the 2019 midterm elections, Congress will resume from May 20 to June 7 before its sine die adjourment from June 8 to July 21, which is the end of the 17th Congress.
For Senate approval
The House approved on third and final reading and endorsed for Senate approval a total of 125 bills. These comprise 33 national and 91 local measures, and one joint resolution.
After the Senate approves these measures, bicameral conference committee meetings will be conducted to reconcile the differences between the Senate and House versions of the said bills.
Meanwhile, already pending at the bicameral conference are eight measures —five national bills and three local bills. The national bills are HB 7652, “The Mobile Number Portability Act”; HB 6769, “Prohibiting Discriminatory Acts Against Women on Account of Sex”; HB 5615 and SB 1716, “Establishing the National Sports Training Center”; HB 7449, “Appropriating the Sum of P1.161 billion as Supplemental Appropriations for Dengvaxia Vaccinees” which has been certified as urgent; and HB 5162, “Separating General Santos City from the First Legislative District of South Cotabato.”
778 processed measures
The House of Representatives has processed a total of 778 measures, or an average of 31 measures per session day, before Congress adjourned its session on October 10.
This translates to a total of 3,707 measures processed by the House from the opening of the 17th Congress on July 25, 2016.
Of the 778 processed measures during the third regular session, a total of 32 were enacted into law, eight of which were of national significance and 24 of local significance.
Meanwhile, 41 more measures are awaiting the President’s signature to become additional laws.
Apart from these landmark measures, the House ratified 10 bicameral reports, nine of which are of national importance and one of local significance.