THE PHILIPPINE STAR
news
bills passed into law
By ALEXIS ROMERO
Nine of the 17 bills certified as urgent
by President Duterte have become law
under the 17th Congress.
Three of the measure6 were signed
into law this year, data from the Fres-
idential Legislative Liaison Office
showed.
Enacted this year were the rice tariffica-
tion law that liberalized rice irirportation
to ensure adequate supply; universal
health care law thatexpanded the benefits
of Philippine Health Insurance Corp.
members; and this year's P3.662-trillion
national budget,"which passage was
delayed by bickerfurg among House and
Senate leaders.
Other urgent bills that have been
signed into law were the Bangsamoro
Organic f,gw, the joint resolution au-
thorizing the increase in the base pay of
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military and uniformed personnel, 2018
budgef the first package of Tax Reform
for Acceleration and lnclusion, the bill
postponing the 2017 barangay and Sang-
guniang Kabataan elections and the 2017
budget.
Days before the lTth Congress ad-
joumed, Duterte certi6ed as urgent foui
bills: amendments to Lhe lubR Service
Act, Foreign Investrnents Act, Retail Tlade
Liberalization Act and therevival of the
mandatory Reserve Officers' Training
Corps program.
Congress adjourned last jule 7 without
passing the measures.
Other urgent bills bypassed dur-
ing the 17th Congress were the
Budget Reform Act, P1.161-billion
supplemental budget, bill strength-
ening workers' right to security of
tenure and the bill raising excise tax
on tobacco products.