Lawmakers assured President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday that they will pass the 20 priority measures that the Chief Executive requested this year, Malacañang said.

In a statement following the Third Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council Meeting, Malacañang said the Congress is on track for the December passage of the measures – including the General Appropriations Bill.

Malacañang, citing Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, said that the Senate has finished about half of the 20 priority legislations requested by the President for a December passage.

"During our last LEDAC meeting, the second LEDAC meeting, there were about 20 proposals requested by our President before the end of the year," Zubiri said after the LEDAC meeting with President Marcos and other members of Congress.

"And we are happy to announce that almost half of them have already been completed in the Senate. Those pending proposals will be laws within the next few weeks. Hopefully, the President will be able to sign it," Zubiri added.

The 20 bills identified as priority measures for passage by the end of December 2023 include the National Employment Action Plan; LGU Income Classification, Internet Transaction Act, BOT/PPP Act; Salt Development Industry Act, Ease of Paying Taxes, Real Property Evaluation and Assessment Reform Act, Magna Carta for Seafarers, and Anti-Agriculture Smuggling Act.

Other measures are the Waste-to-Energy Bill, the National Disease Prevention Management Authority, Amendments to the Banking Act or the Fund Secrecy Law, the Medical Reserve Corps, the Virology Institute of the Philippines, E-Governance Act, New Philippine Passport Act, the National Government Rightsizing Act, the National Scamming Act, the National Citizens Service Training Program Act and the Military and Uniformed Personnel Pension System Act.

"The President's legislative agenda is indeed commendable, and we will work to pass it as soon as possible. The longest timeframe for completion will be by the end of the year, which is this December, along with his General Appropriations Act," Zubiri said, adding the President wants the quick passage of the legislative measures that they committed.

The administration's economic team also has additional legislation, which the Senate will support, he said, highlighting the President's commitment to help the Filipino people.

For his part, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said the House of Representatives reported to the President that the Lower House had already approved 18 out of the 20 legislations to be passed by year-end.

"Before we go on break, we will complete all 20 priority LEDAC measures. We aim to finish them by the end of September or three months ahead of the agreed deadline between me, the Senate President, and the President," Romualdez said.

"This includes our General Appropriations bill, which we plan to pass on the third and final reading by next Wednesday. So, we'll be three days ahead of schedule before the break," he added.

In terms of the 17 measures enumerated by the President during one of his State Of the Nation Addresses, the House Speaker said seven out of the 17 had been passed on the third and final reading, noting they assured the President that the House of Representatives would pass all those measures by December.

Pending legislations in the Senate Committee listed in the 1st LEDAC meeting last 10 October 2022, include the Medical Reserve Corps, Virology Institute of the Philippines, E-Governance Act, E-Government Act, National Government Rightsizing Act, Free Legal Assistance for Police and Soldiers, Apprenticeship Law, Eastern Visayas Development Authority, Negros Island Region, PIFITA, National Land Use Act, Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, GUIDE Bill, Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone, Enabling Law for the Natural Gas Industry, MUP Bill, Amendments to EPIRA, Budget Reform Act, Department of Water Resources, and National Defense Act.

In the Lower House, the bills pending in the Committee are Amendments to EPIRA, Budget Reform Act, Department of Water Resources, and National Defense Act.

Pending in 2nd reading at the Senate include the BOT/PPP Bill, Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Internet Transaction Act/ E-Commerce Law, Mandatory ROTC/NSTP, New Philippine Passport Act, Wase-to-Energy Bill, Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, and Valuable Reform Bill.

Those approved on 3rd and final reading at the Lower House are the BOT/PPP Bill, Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Internet Transaction Act/ E-Commerce Law, Mandatory ROTC/NSTP, New Philippine Passport Act, Wase-to-Energy Bill, Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, and Valuable Reform Bill, Medical Reserve Corps, Virology Institute of the Philippines, E-Governance Act, E-Government Act, National Government Rightsizing Act, Free Legal Assistance for Police and Soldiers, Apprenticeship Law, Eastern Visayas Development Authority, Negros Island Region, PIFITA, National Land Use Act, Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, GUIDE Bill, Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone, Enabling Law for the Natural Gas Industry.

In the First LEDAC Execom Meeting last 13 February 2023, those approved by the Senate on 3rd reading included Revitalizing the Salt Industry, LGU Income Classification Bill, and National Employment Action Plan.

In the Lower House, legislations passed on 3rd reading are Revitalizing the Salt Industry, LGU Income Classification Bill, National Employment Action Plan, Ease of Paying Taxes, PENCAS, Comprehensive Infrastructure Development Master Plan, Philippine Immigration Bill, and Amendment to the Universal Health Care Act.

Those listed in the 2nd LEDAC Meeting on 5 July 2023, pending measures in the Senate committee include the Amendment to the Bank Deposits Secrecy Law, Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming Law, and Blue Economy Act. Tatak Pinoy (Proudly Pilipino Act) is also pending on 2nd reading at the Senate.

In the Lower House, those pending at the committee are Tatak Pinoy (Proudly Pilipino Act) and Blue Economy Act, while approved on 3rd reading were the Amendment to the Bank Deposits Secrecy Law and Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming Law.