Palace working overtime on priority bills

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte confirmed that the Office of the Executive Secretary is working overtime to put the final touches on the 23 priority bills that will be submitted to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council on Tuesday.

She however said that there is no final result of priority bills yet, "Let me make it clear first. There is no list that has been approved yet. We will see when the Office of the Executive Secretary comes out with the final list."

Valte added that all of the bills were important that is why the cabinet members gathered for four hours to talk about it.

It is not yet sure if the Freedom of Information bill or the Reproductive Health bill are in the top priority bills, according to Valte.

As mentioned in his most recent State Of the Nation Address, President Benigno Aquino III wants to fast-track the implementation of the following proposed bills:

• Bills for compensation to martial law victims
• Regulation salaries for household workers
• Increasing the range of scholarships given by the Department of Science and Technology to outstanding but underprivileged students
• Supporting responsible management of the environment
• Progressing universal quality health care
• Launching facilities that will ensure the safety of citizens in times of calamity; and strengthening and developing the Bureau of Corrections, National Bureau of Investigation, National Electrification Administration and the government network People's Television.

 — ARA