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Speaker vows to pass 9 urgent bills
By Maricel V. Cruz
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Thursday said the House is on track to deliver on its commitment to pass the remaining nine out of the 44 urgent measures identified by the Legislative-Executive Advisory Council.
This developed after the chamber approved on Wednesday night House Bill 8456 and House Bill No. 8443, ticking off two out of the nine LEDAC priority measures barely two weeks from the start of the 2nd regular session of the 19th Congress.
“The approval of these twin measures manifests our firm commitment to the passage of the remaining LEDAC priority measures in line with the agenda for prosperity of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.,” Romualdez said.
Approved by a vote of 215 against 3, HB No. 8456 seeks to establish the Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Industry (PDNGI) to promote the role of natu- ral gas as a “safe, environment-friendly, efficient, and cost-effective source of energy.”
“Makakatulong ito sa ating layunin na pangalagaan ang kapaligiran upang maibsan ang masamang epekto ng climate change at masigurong mayroong sapat na supply at mas abot-kayang presyo ng koryente para sa ating mga mamamayan,” Romualdez pointed out.
President Marcos had called for the expansion of the natural gas industry to diversify the nation’s energy mix and address growing energy demand, giving the country lead time for the development of more renewable energy sources.
HB 8456 provides regulatory policies and promotes the conversion of existing
In Brief
CA set to screen 38 executive appointees starting next week
THE bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) will start confirmation hearings next week on 38 officials recently appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to various key positions, CA Assistant Minority Leader and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said on Thursday.
“The CA’s committee on foreign affairs chaired by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada will kick off the confirmation hearings on Wednesday, August 9, and immediately thereafter, we will have a plenary session,” Pimentel said.
The Estrada panel will screen the nominations of Philippe Lhuillier and Mersole Mellejor as Philippine ambassadors to Spain and Nigeria, respectively, along with the appointment of Raquel Solano as Chief of Mission Class II at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Pimentel, meanwhile, said the President has nominated DFA Assistant Secretary Charlie Manangan as Philippine ambassador to Iraq. Manangan was nominated on July 25, and his papers were received by the CA on July 31, according to Pimentel.
Pimentel said the CA also received on July 31 the promotion papers of General Romeo Brawner Jr., the new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Marine Brigadier General Simplitius Adecer.
“In all, we have 38 presidential appointees lined up for confirmation hearings,” Pimentel said.
DILG upholds suspension of Misamis Occidental mayor
equipment and facilities from using fossil fuel to natural gas.
The measure compels the Department of Energy to supervise and monitor the development of the PDNGI, as well as the regulation of the construction and operation of natural gas pipelines and related facilities for the transmission, distribution, and supply of natural gas.
On the other hand, the House unanimously approved on third and final reading HB No. 8443 establishing the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS).
As envisioned, PENCAS is a framework that takes into account the country’s natural capital and its impact on the economy.
