By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
The two chambers of Congress have apparently found a way to make the most of the few remaining session days—sans major differences, they will just adopt each other’s version to save time.
Concrete examples are the bill creating the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)
and the measure strengthening the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC). The House adopted the Senate version of the PDIC, then the upper chamber adopted the approved DICT bill of the Lower House.
Speaker Feliciano R. Belmonte Jr. said it is not a strategy they took on, but is a good indication of the two chambers’
good working relationship, with just six session days left for the 16th Congress.
“It’s not a strategy [to only adopt measures and not go through a bicameral committee conference]. It just so happens that we agreed on both issues [regarding the two adopted measures],” he said.
“If there’s a difference between what they [Senate] are saying and what we [House of Representatives] are saying, we still have to pass [the bills] through the bicam,” Belmonte added. Case in point is the proposed Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), which was passed on Thursday at the bicam.
The bill aims to modernize customs and tariff administration through full automation of operations and, thus, reduce the opportunities for corruption and technical smuggling; and enact an enabling domestic legislation to make the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines compliant with the Revised Kyoto Convention. Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto said the bill also adds tax-exemption privileges for returning overseas Filipino. It increases the tax-exempt value of balikbayan box packages from P10,000 to P150,000.
According to Belmonte, leaders of both houses are conducting consultations monthly to discuss priority measures of the Congress prior to their approvals.
“Unlike in the past [congresses], we manage to tackle priority bills monthly. Hindi naman kami blind to each other, nag kakausap kami madalas ni Senate President [Franklin] M. Drilon and then as a group, we meet once a month; we understand each other as to the status of various bills and then we talk para makita ’yung pareho naming stand,” he added.
PDIC charter
Deputy Speaker and National Unity Party Rep. Roberto Puno of Antipolo said members of the lower chamber have unanimously adopted the Senate Bill (SB) 2976.
SB 2976, or an act amending Republic Act 3591, or the PDIC Charter and other related laws, enhances the resolution and liquidation framework for banks and banking institutions, as well as strengthens the independence, authority and financial capability of the PDIC. It will be now transmitted to President Aquino for signature.
Sen. Sergio R. Osmeña III, chairman of the Senate Committee on Banks and Financial Institutions, has said the measure “aims to make the PDIC more effective in carrying out its mandate to protect depositors.”
The bill is seen to boost the state deposit insurer’s capacity to protect depositors of the Philippine banking system through the increased minimum deposit insurance coverage (MDIC) and the adoption of corollary measures that will reinforce the institutional and financial capabilities of the PDIC. Osmeña, also principal author and sponsor of SB 2976, said “depositors and creditors of closed banks have to bear the adverse consequences of bank closures. They experience significant loss of their hard-earned money and disruption of their business.”
He said the passage of the bill into law would reinforce the authorities of the PDIC so it could better provide “safety nets” for the bank’s financial system.
Under the measure, Osmeña said the PDIC would be able to assist banks in danger of closing while they are still operating, and not after they have been closed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
Creation of DICT
The bill creating the DICT is among the priority bills of the 16th Congress. It states that the DICT shall be the primary government entity to plan, promote and help develop the ICT sector, and ensure reliable and cost-efficient communications facilities and other multimedia infrastructure and services in the country.
The measure seeks to promote the utilization of ICT as a vital tool for nation-building and economic growth “that is government-enabled, private sector-led, citizen-centric and market-based.”
The bill also aims to integrate the management of two diverse concerns, transportation and communications, into one department, as well as develop a Philippine information and communications technology based on world standards, thereby ensuring a better future for all Filipinos.
The DICT shall, among others, formulate, recommend and implement national policies and guidelines in the ICT sector that will promote wider use and development of ICT, and its applications, such as e-commerce, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry; and represent and negotiate for Philippine interests on matters pertaining to ICT in international bodies.