HOUSE Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has lauded President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for signing at least 15 new laws while Congress is on recess, advancing significant reforms across agriculture, education, defense, and the judiciary.

According to Romualdez, this is a testament to the administration’s commitment to resilience and national progress.

“The signing of these 15 new Republic Acts (RAs) during the recess shows a relentless commitment to our people,” Romualdez said.

Among the newly-enacted measures, which were signed between September 26 and October 30, are laws targeting agricultural smuggling, expanding judicial branches, and establishing a nationwide program for academic recovery. Congress will resume session this Monday, November 4.

Since President Marcos assumed office on June 30, 2022, a total of 103 bills have been signed into law, with 50 of national importance and 53 for local application.

The full list of newly signed laws are: RA 12022 defines the crimes of agricultural economic sabotage, prescribes penalties, vests jurisdiction over such offenses with the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA), and provides mechanisms for implementation and enforcement, repealing Republic Act No. 10845 or the “Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016,” RA 12023 amends sections of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, introducing new provisions to enhance tax administration and compliance; RA 12024 revitalizes and strengthens the self-reliant defense posture program, promoting the development of a national defense industry and allocating necessary funds; RA 12025 establishes five additional branches of the Regional Trial Court in the National Capital Judicial Region, stationed in Muntinlupa City, to improve judicial efficiency; RA 12026 creates four additional branches of the Regional Trial Court in the Fourth Judicial Region, stationed in Calauag, Quezon Province, to enhance access to justice;

RA 12027 suspends the implementation of the use of the mother tongue as the medium of instruction for Kindergarten to Grade 3, as provided under the “Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013,” RA 12028 establishes the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) program, allocating funds to support educational recovery initiatives; RA 12029 creates two additional branches of the Regional Trial Court in the Fourth Judicial Region, stationed in Silang, Cavite, to address case backlogs; RA 12030 establishes three additional branches of the Metropolitan Trial Court in the National Capital Judicial Region, stationed in Parañaque City, to expedite legal proceedings; RA 12031 creates two additional branches of the Regional Trial Court in the Second Judicial Region, stationed in Cabagan, Isabela, to improve judicial services; RA 12032 establishes three additional branches of the Regional Trial Court and two additional branches of the Municipal Trial Court in the Tenth Judicial Region, stationed in Dinagat Islands, to enhance judicial accessibility; RA 12033 creates one additional branch of the Regional Trial Court, designated as a special court for drug cases, in Baybay City, Leyte, to strengthen anti-drug efforts; RA 12034 establishes six additional branches of the Regional Trial Court in the Ninth Judicial Region, stationed in Diplahan, Zamboanga Sibugay, to improve legal services; RA 12035 creates three additional branches of the Regional Trial Court in the Tenth Judicial Region, stationed in Valencia City, Bukidnon, to address judicial needs; RA 12036 establishes four additional branches of the Regional Trial Court in the Eighth Judicial Region, stationed in Tacloban City, Leyte, to enhance judicial capacity.

AUTHOR PROFILE

People's Journal