Philippine Politics

MANILA, Philippines - Congress resumes sessions Monday after a month-long break, with approval before yearend of the proposed P1.415-trillion national budget for 2009 on top of its agenda.

The budget, up 15% from the P1.227 trillion appropriated this year, is scheduled for third and final approval in the House. The measure remains at the committee level in the Senate but the chamber’s leader has committed to its early approval.

Both chambers said they were looking at realigments, with House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles saying the priority should be food security, education, and health. Senator Edgardo J. Angara, chairman of the finance subcommittee, said the realignments should prioritize infrastructure spending to provide more jobs to Filipinos.

“The early approval of the proposed 2009 budget reflects our commitment to put in place the fiscal guidelines that will ensure smooth operation of the government next year,” Senate President Manuel B. Villar, Jr. said in a statement.

The Senate and the House have also detailed lists of commitments before the next recess on December 17, but have only six weeks to act.

Six common measures — based on the priorities issued by both chambers — appear to have the best chances of being passed before yearend:

* the proposed Magna Carta of Women;
* a five-year extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP);
* rationalization of fiscal incentives;
* amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA);
* reproductive health bill; and
* a national tourism policy program.

Of the six, all but two — fiscal incentives rationalization and the reproductive health bill — are on a joint legislative-executive priority list.

Up for approval by the bicameral conference committee on Wednesday, meanwhile, is the Cooperative Code that provides tax incentives to cooperatives.

Makati Business Club Executive Director Alberto A. Lim favors the legislative priorities. Asked what other measures he would suggest that Congress pass, Mr. Lim said: “Having Congress get through all the pending measures would be enough.”

Edgardo G. Lacson, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the legislature should focus on what the group calls the FIRE (food improvement and security, infrastructure, reengineering education, and energy) program.

Of 22 priority measures listed by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council, Congress has so far approved 10:

* the 2008 budget;
* extension of the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund to 2015;
* Civil Aviation Authority bill;
* amendments to the University of the Philippines charter;
* amendments to the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises;
* the cheaper drugs law;
* higher tax exemptions for wage earners;
* Personal Equity Retirement Account;
* Credit Information System Act; and
* the Renewable Energy Act.
* Still pending are:
* the EPIRA amendments;
* CARP extension;
* national tourism policy bill;
* a bill allowing the Ombudsman to use private prosecutors;
* the Anti-Smuggling Act;
* a bill imposing stiffer penalties on the illegal explosives trade;
* the Magna Carta of Women;
* the Witness Protection Act;
* modernization of the Fire Code;
* concurrence with presidential proclamation granting amnesty to rebels;
* amendments to the Customs Brokers Act; and
* amendments to the Consumer Act. - BusinessWorld