Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said the House of Representatives will prioritize President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s legislative agenda when it resumes sessions.

The former President said this in a speech in San Simon Industrial Park, Pampanga on Friday.

“As I’ve said, before our priority is the priority agenda of President Duterte and you can see how fast we have moved.” Arroyo reiterated.

The speaker enumerated the accomplishments of the House as they “fast track” the President’s agenda in her last year in office.

Arroyo cited the Coco Levy Trust Fund Bill which was approved by the congressional bicameral conference committee last 1 August.

Around 3.5 million coconut farmers nationwide will benefit from the fund.

Also, the Rice Tariffication Bill was passed on third and final reading on 14 August. It seeks to open private importation of rice for tariff collection which will create fund to develop the local rice industry and ensure its competitiveness.

“Infrastructure and the ease of doing business are the most important things but anyway, it will begin the period of interpellation also when we resume,” Arroyo added.

Despite facing a lot of difficulties, the speaker hopes to pass the Disaster Management Bill and the Tax Reform Bill which she said was “not the most important thing.” Also in the pipeline is the resolution that seeks separate voting with the Senate in Constituent Assembly and the Universal Health Care, which is now in the Senate.

Congress will resume office on 28 August after a 12-day break to give way for the President to sign an executive order that will reduce taxes in fish and corn importation.