MANILA, Philippines – For this month, Congress will not tackle the bills on death penalty and lowering of age of criminal responsibility, acknowledging that long debates expected on these measures.
Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said they have instead identified 14 bills, which will be prioritized for passage in the next 13 session days. Congress will go on break anew on May 31.
The list of doable bills within the month was firmed up in a meeting between the leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday.
“These are bills that we believe we can pass in May or until the next break,” Fariñas said.
“We did not include death penalty because we know we cannot finish it in May,” he added.
The 14 bills are:
– Free internet access in public place
– Affordable higher education for all
– Philippine passport act
– Review of penalties of the Revised Penal Code
– Philippine mental health act
– Occupational safety and health standard act
– Community service in lieu of imprisonment where penalty is aresto menor
– Penalizing refusal of hospitals to administer medical treatment in emergency cases
– Universal health care act
– Free irrigation service act
– Agrarian and agricultural credit condonation act
– Extension of driver’s license validity act
– Prohibition of conversion of irrigated lands
– Amendments to the Anti Money Laundering Act
