Aquino to convene LEDAC in July

President Benigno Aquino.

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III is set to convene the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) next month in line with his directive to push for the passage of more legislative measures for the benefit of the Filipino people.

During a regular news briefing at Malacanang on Wednesday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the LEDAC is set to hold a meeting on July 12.

Following the signing into law of four legislative measures in the fields of energy, labor and health care that impact on the social reform agenda of the Aquino administration, the Chief Executive wanted to push more legislative measures to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people.

Lacierda stressed that the President signed the four measures on energy, labor and healthcare into law, saying that these will provide more opportunities for concrete, dynamic development across the nation.

Among the priority bills discussed last February include the proposed creation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the amendments to the National Health Insurance Act, the postponement of elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the proposed reorganization of the National Food Authority (NFA), among others.

Last June 6, Aquino signed into law Republic Act 10149 or the
Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC)Governance Act of 2011 hat aims to promote financial viability and fiscal discipline in GOCCs and strengthen the role of the State in its governance and management to make them more responsive to the needs of the Filipino people.

Lacierda noted that the Aquino administration is looking forward to further working in solidarity with Congress as part of the service to the countrymen.

“We are heartened by the hard work of our allies in the Senate and the House of Representatives, especially their leadership under Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Speaker Sonny Belmonte. We look forward to further working in solidarity with them, in service to our countrymen,” he said.

Created in 1992, the LEDAC has as regular members the President as chairman, the Vice President, the Senate President, the House Speaker, seven Cabinet members, three senators, three House members, and one representative each from the local government, the youth, and the private sector.