To promote building safety, environment protection, tourism

THE House of Representatives on Monday night approved on third and final reading 11 national and local bills that seek to promote the safety of private and public buildings and infrastructure, protect the environment and boost tourism in the country.

“We immediately buckled down to work on the first day of our resumption of session. It was a productive day,” Speaker Martin G. Romualdez said.

He said Mondays are usually devoted to House members’ privilege speeches on their concerns, aside from referral of numerous bills, resolutions, and communications to the various committees and tackling unfinished business.

“But yesterday (Monday), we managed to pass bills of national and local importance, thanks to the cooperation of every House member,” Romualdez said.

One national measure approved was House Bill (HB) No. 5087. Authored principally by Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Representative Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., it seeks to include the National Building Code as a subject in engineering and architecture courses and as part of licensure examinations for these professions.

Gonzales said the bill “aims to safeguard life, health, property, and public welfare.”

The two other proposed laws of national application are HB No. 5110, which seeks to “strengthen the conservation and protection of Philippine cultural heritage through cultural mapping and enhanced cultural heritage education program,” and Bill No. 3622, which would extend the life of the Philippine Aerospace Development Corp. by another 50 years.

The corporate life of the state corporation, which is under the Department of National Defense (DND), is set to expire on Sept. 5, 2023.

The two bills’ principal authors are Pangasinan Rep. Christopher de Venecia, former Speaker and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco, and Ilocos Sur Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan.

The House also adopted three resolutions on Monday night – one condoling with the families of those who died during the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng,” the second was expressing solidarity to Paeng victims, and the other condemning the senseless killing of veteran broadcaster Percy Lapid.

The resolutions were authored by Speaker Romualdez, Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe, Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan, Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos, Tingog Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre.

The eight other measures of local importance and their principal authors are:

1. HB 5167, declaring the Tugonan Waterfalls in Barangay San Lorenzo, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, an ecotourism site, by Representatives Afelito Bascug and Eddiebong Plaza.

2. HB 5168, declaring the immediate environs of the National Shrine of our Mother of Perpetual Help, popularly known as Baclaran Church along Roxas Boulevard in Parañaque City, a heritage site and a tourist destination, by Rep. Edwin Olivarez.

3. HB 5169, declaring Mount Arayat located along the borders of the towns of Arayat and Magalang in Pampanga, as an ecotourism destination, by Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr.

4. HB, declaring the Luzon Datum in Barangay Hinanggayon in Mogpog, Marinduque, as a tourist spot by Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco.

5. HB 5171, declaring the Cebu Safari and Adventure Park in Barangay Corte, Carmen, Cebu, a tourism destination, by Rep. Vincent Franco Frasco.

6. HB 5172, distinguishing the Dao tree located within the secondary forest in E. Pelaez Ranch in Bayombong, Barangay Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City, as the Cagayan de Oro Heritage Tree and declaring it as a tourist attraction, by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.

7. HB 5173, declaring the Guinsaugon Eco-adventure Park in Barangay Ginsaugon, St. Bernard, Southern Leyte, a tourism designation by Rep. Christopherson Yap.

8. HB 5174, declaring the Passig islet in Barangay Bato, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, as an ecotourism site, by Rep. Tracy Cagas.

The House will shortly send the 11 bills to the Senate for its consideration.