News Details

Marcos, Congress Set 44 Priority Bills, Focus on Agri, Welfare, and Education Reforms

NPO

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September 30, 2025

MANILA – Agriculture, social protection, and education reforms emerged as top priorities in the 20th Congress, as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and congressional leaders finalized 44 measures under the Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) during the LEDAC meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday.

Among the key measures are amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law and the Fisheries Code aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of farmers and fisherfolk, along with proposed reforms to the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act.

Social protection initiatives also headline the list, including amendments to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Universal Health Care Act, the proposed Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) Act, and the creation of a National Center for Geriatric Health.

In education, lawmakers will tackle improvements to the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act, upgrades to student and teacher assistance in private schools, and reforms to the Teacher Professionalization Act.

Energy, environment, and governance also form part of the core agenda, with the Waste-to-Energy Bill, National Land Use Act, excise tax on single-use plastics, and amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) among the proposals.

Marcos underscored the urgency of passing the Rice Tariffication Law amendments and a comprehensive review of the Local Government Code, calling them “critical to protecting agricultural competitiveness and improving governance efficiency.”

Other priorities include bills on digitalization, disaster resilience, tax amnesties, cybersecurity, fair use of AI in elections, and modernization of key institutions such as the Bureau of Immigration and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

The Executive and Legislative branches affirmed that the 44 CLA measures are designed not only to address immediate needs but also to build the foundations for long-term growth and resilience.

NPO News Team