Marcoleta files priority bills on energy, agriculture, social equity

Neophyte Senator Rodante Marcoleta has officially filed his first ten priority bills for the current legislative session, focusing on consumer protection, energy reform, agricultural support, and social justice.

Among these measures is a bill seeking to exempt electricity sales from the Value Added Tax (VAT) through amendments to the National Internal Revenue Code.

Marcoleta also proposed a bill that aims to shield Filipino consumers from arbitrary liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) price hikes by amending the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998.

He filed another bill to strengthen the implementation of the lifeline electricity rate for low-income households by revising provisions under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).

In line with energy sustainability, he introduced a bill to establish a national policy and regulatory framework for waste-to-energy technologies.

In support of local governance, Marcoleta proposed the creation of a Barangay Affairs and Development Commission, which would manage a dedicated fund for grassroots projects.

To tackle food insecurity and promote environmental awareness, he filed a separate bill that seeks to integrate instructional gardens into school curricula and encourage urban agriculture.

Marcoleta likewise introduced a bill offering free tertiary education in agriculture-related courses to children of qualified farmers and deserving students.

He also submitted a measure institutionalizing a fertilizer and pesticide subsidy program under the Department of Agriculture “to support farmers in accessing essential agricultural inputs.”

For the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Marcoleta pushed for the creation of a dedicated social security and retirement system tailored to their needs.

Finally, Marcoleta filed a bill seeking to exempt underprivileged and homeless individuals from the requirement of posting a supersedeas bond when appealing ejectment cases. The measure proposes to amend Republic Act No. 7279, also known as the “Urban Development and Housing Act,” to ensure that economically disadvantaged Filipinos are not denied access to legal remedies due to financial constraints.

According to Senator Marcoleta’s office, these legislative proposals aim to provide immediate relief and long-term empowerment to ordinary Filipinos, especially those burdened by rising costs and limited access to essential services.