LEDAC identifies 28 priority bills, eyes passage before June 2025

MANILA — The Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) on Tuesday released its newest list of 28 priority bills eyed to be passed on or before June 2025.

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In its meeting on Tuesday, LEDAC approved 18 bills as top priority, eight of which are already in advanced stages in the legislative process, and ten bills as second priority for passage.

Seven priority bills introduced by the economic team have been included in the top priority list, namely: 

• Amendments to the Right-of-Way Act

•  Excise Tax on Single-Use Plastics

•  Rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime

•  Amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA

•  CREATE MORE Act

•  Creation of the Department of Water Resources 

•  VAT on Digital Services

The Amendments to the Foreign Investors’ Long Term Lease Act, as introduced by newly-elected Senate President Francis Escudero, was also included in the top priority list. 

The Council also included in the top priority list the proposal of House Speaker Martin Romualdez on the reforms in the Philippine Capital Markets. 

The LEDAC also approved the inclusion of the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act in the top priority list.

Below is the full list of LEDAC's 28 priority bills:

1. Reforms to Philippine Capital Markets
2. Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act
3. Amendments to the Right-of-Way Act
4. Excise Tax on Single-Use Plastics
5. Rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime
6. Amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA)
7. Department of Water Resources
8. CREATE MORE Act
9. Amendments to the Foreign Investors’ Long-Term Lease Act
10. Amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law
11. Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act
12. Amendments to the Government Procurement Reform Act
13. Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming Act
14. Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act
15. Philippine Maritime Zones Act
16. Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act
17. VAT on Digital Services
18. New Government Auditing Code
19. Blue Economy Act
20. Enterprise-Based Education and Training Framework Act
21. Amendments to the Universal Health Care Act
22. Open Access in Data Transmission Act
23. Waste-to-Energy Bill
24. Mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC)
25. Unified System of Separation, Retirement and Pension of Military and Uniformed Personnel
26. E-Government Act / E-Governance Act
27. Amendments to the Agrarian Reform Law
28. Philippine Immigration Act

“The timely passage of these bills is critical in strengthening the country’s economic governance and ensuring that we are on track in implementing infrastructure flagship projects and maintaining fiscal sustainability,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

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The LEDAC is a consultative and advisory body to the President as the head of the national economic and planning agency for further consultations and advice on certain programs and policies essential to the realization of the goals of the national economy. 

The LEDAC also serves as a venue to facilitate high level policy discussions on vital issues and concerns affecting national development.