During the last three months of year 2002, four priority
measures were enacted: Special Purpose Vehicle Act (RA
9182), Magna Carta for Countryside and Barangay Business
Enterprises (RA 9178), Free Patents Law (RA 9176), Declaring
the Celebration of Eidul Fitr a National Holiday (RA
9177). Early this month, the Government Procurement
Act (RA 9184) was also signed into law.
At present, however, there is still much work to be
done and no room for delay. For instance, the General
Appropriations Act for FY 2003 which determines how
operations of the government will be financed from 1
January to 31 December 2003, is still undergoing committee-level
hearings at the Senate. After the committee hearings,
the budget measure still has to go through deliberations
on the floor before legislators can vote on it. This
measure has to be passed to allow for smooth implementation
of government programs.
The Absentee Voting Act likewise entails significant
changes on the electoral system since its passage will
allow approximately seven million Filipino voters residing
or working abroad to vote for presidential, vice-presidential,
senatorial, and party-list posts. Overseas contract
workers have been consistently pushing for the passage
of the Act. In the meantime, legislators in the bicameral
conference committee have yet to agree on the final
version of the two chambers' conflicting provisions.
Other measures President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo certified
as urgent are still far from being enacted. Meanwhile,
Congress has until 21 March 2003 to work on the needed
legislation before it adjourns for recess starting 22
March 2003 until 13 April 2003. Expected to be enacted
on or before 13 March 2003 are the Amendments to the
Anti-Money Laundering Act, Farmland as Loan Collateral,
Securitization Act, Dual Citizenship Act, and the Absentee
Voting Law. Meanwhile, six measures are expected to
be enacted by 6 June: Transco Franchise, Excise Tax
on Motor Vehicles, Rationalization of the compensation
for the Judiciary, Indexation of Sin Taxes, and the
National Revenue Authority Act.
