CCoommmmiitttteeee DDaaiillyy BBuulllleettiinn th 18 Congress A publication of the Committee Affairs Department Vol. I No. 55 First Regular Session Department December 17, 2019 COMMITTEE MEETINGS ON HOUSE MEASURES MEASURES COMMITTEE PRINCIPAL SUBJECT MATTER ACTION TAKEN/DISCUSSION NO. AUTHOR Banks and HB 183 Deputy Speaker Mandating the Land Bank of the The Committee, chaired by Quirino Rep. Junie Financial Romero Philippines (LBP) to allocate 60% of its Cua, will continue its deliberation on the 10 Intermediaries total loan portfolio for its financing measures in its next meeting. services to farmers and fisherfolk all over the country, to promote inclusive Rep. Cua called on LBP to come up with a viable growth, and to improve the quality of plan that will increase the access of farmers and life especially in the countryside fisherfolk to credit assistance programs as through the delivery of innovative emphasized by President Rodrigo Duterte in his schemes State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July. HB 973 Deputy Speaker Mandating the LBP to provide Rep. Cua said that HRs 55 and 294 call for an Romero additional fund allotment for the full investigation into whether the LBP and the DBP implementation of RA 3844, otherwise are complying with their mandate to provide credit known as the Agricultural Land Reform services to qualified beneficiaries in the agriculture Code and fisheries sector. He noted that the imposition of strict requirements by the two banks are HB 974 Deputy Speaker Mandating the LBP to provide hindering farmers from borrowing to improve their Romero additional funding for the Agro-industry productivity, thus affecting the overall Modernization Credit and Financing development of this sector. Program (AMCFP) to implement credit assistance programs, defining its Deputy Speaker Michael Romero, Ph.D. (Party- powers and functions List, 1-PACMAN), author of several measures in the agenda, urged the LBP to provide an effective HB 1000 Deputy Speaker Increasing the allotment of the regular financial scheme for the whole agricultural sector. Romero loan portfolio of the LBP for financing agricultural projects pursuant to the Committee Secretary Richard Leo Baldueza provisions of RA 10000, otherwise briefly enumerated the mandate of the LBP and known as the Agri-Agra Reform Credit the DBP which the two banks later confirmed. Act of 2009 Meanwhile, LBP First Vice President and Strategic HB 1011 Deputy Speaker Mandating the LBP to provide Planning Group head Elcid Pangilinan discussed Romero additional funding for the Agricultural LBP’s priority action plans for agriculture for FY Credit Policy Council (ACPC) to assist 2020-2022, which include the following: the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Triple the total funds for agriculture synchronizing all credit policies and financing from P10 billion to P30 billion; programs, defining its powers and Increase the number of farmer- functions beneficiaries to two million and assist the Department of Agriculture (DA) in HBs 3437 & Deputy Speaker Prioritizing the agricultural sector in the updating the list of farmers in the 4172 Santos-Recto grant of loans by the LBP, amending country; and Rep. for the purpose RA 3844, as amended Strengthen its capacity building services Haresco for farmers’ organizations and cooperatives from P30 billion to P100 HB 5681 Rep. Cua Mandating banking institutions to billion; and strengthen the financing system for Intensify LBP’s information agricultural, fisheries and rural dissemination relative to its financial development in the Philippines services. HR 55 Deputy Speaker Investigation into the operations of the Pangilinan also informed the body that 28% of the Romero Development Bank of the Philippines LBP’s loan portfolio is dedicated to agriculture. (DBP) and the LBP to determine whether they are faithfully pursuing Several Members agreed that the LBP’s portfolio their original mandate of promoting for agriculture should be raised to 60% given its countryside development social mandate to promote countryside Continuation… HR 294 Rep. Geron Investigation to revisit the mandate of development as opposed to being a universal Banks and the LBP with respect to the needs of banking institution. Financial the agricultural sector Intermediaries The LBP was requested to submit the documents requested by the Members. Basic Education HBs 4084, Reps. Torres- Creating a national academy of The Joint Committee, co-chaired by Pasig City and Culture jt. 4248, 5455 Gomez, Garcia sports/high school for sports in certain Rep. Roman Romulo, Chair of the Committee on w/ Youth and & 5462 (J.E.), Kho (W.), parts of the country and appropriating Basic Education and Culture, and Rep. Eric Sports and Cari funds therefor Martinez (2nd District, Valenzuela City), Chair of Development the Committee on Youth and Sports Development, approved the four bills subject to style and amendment. Expressing support for the bills, Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Tonisito Umali said that there should be an institution dedicated solely on providing both academic education and sports development training to talented athletes to allow them to develop self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence in their chosen sport. Cooperatives Substitute Reps. Suansing Making the position of a cooperatives The Committee, chaired by Rep. Sabiniano Development Bill to HBs (E.), Marquez, officer mandatory on every Canama (Party-List, COOP-NATCCO), approved 287, 619, Loyola, municipality, city, and province the Committee Report on the substitute bill. 1058, 2436, Canama, 2851 & 3024 Villaraza- The proposed law provides the mandatory Suarez, and appointment of a cooperatives officer in every Palma local government unit as it underscores the significant role of cooperatives in the country’s local economic development. Health Substitute Reps. Yap (V.), Establishing the Philippine eHealth The Committee, chaired by Rep. Angelina "Helen" Bill to HBs Tan (A.), Salo, system and services in support of Tan, M.D. (4th District, Quezon), approved the 61, 171, and Nieto universal health care, and Substitute Bill to the four bills. 665, & 4899 appropriating funds therefor Substitute Reps. Tan (A.), Modernizing the regulation of health The Committee approved the Substitute Bill to the Bill to HBs Yap (V.), facilities and services, and five bills. 170, 296, Villarica, appropriating funds therefor, repealing 4011, 4264 Roman, and for the purpose RA 4226, otherwise & 5021 Deputy Speaker known as the Hospital Licensure Act Romero HB 2605 Rep. Unabia Converting the Medina Hospital in the The Committee approved HB 2605 with Municipality of Medina, Province of amendments. Misamis Oriental to an extension hospital of the Northern Mindanao Department of Health (DOH) Development Medical Center, Cagayan de Oro City, Management Officer Roderick Napulan suggested to be known as the Northern Mindanao that the Medina Hospital be converted into a new Medical Center Extension Hospital hospital, instead of just an extension hospital as proposed in the bill, considering that a Deed of Donation for the land on which the hospital stands was already executed by the landowner in favor of the DOH. HB 8 Speaker Establishing the national health The Committee will deliberate further on the bill in Cayetano passport system and strengthening the its next meeting. primary healthcare system, appropriating funds therefor Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo (2nd District, Marikina City) recommended that an individual’s PhilHealth record should also be included in the proposed national health passport system. 2 of 6 Continuation… HB 1036 Rep. Establishing reforms in the The Committee will deliberate further on the bill in Health Tambunting implementation of the Magna Carta of its next meeting. Public Health Workers, thereby amending Section 7, Rule XV of RA Batanes Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr. sponsored HB 7305, providing funds therefor 1036 in behalf of the author, Rep. Joy Myra Tambunting (2nd District, Parañaque City), and manifested that the explanatory note attached to the bill be considered as the author’s sponsorship speech. The bill seeks to give importance and recognition to health workers who continue to perform their duties under hazardous working conditions, and to provide equal treatment in the giving of hazard pay under the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers by proposing an across the board hazard pay of P5,000. Alliance of Health Workers President Robert Mendoza expressed his objection to the bill as the proposed hazard pay is way lower than the current hazard pay for public health workers with salary grade (SG) 19, which is approximately P11,317.25. He proposed to increase the hazard pay to P10,000 across the board. The DOH representative agreed that the proposed hazard pay is too low. HB 2723 Deputy Speaker Instituting reforms to promote and The Committee will deliberate further on the bill in Arenas protect the economic, social, and its next meeting. political rights, and well-being of community health workers towards Rep. Diego Ty (1st District, Misamis Occidental) quality health services delivery and sponsored HB 2723 in behalf of the author, appropriating funds therefor Deputy Speaker Rose Marie "Baby" Arenas (3rd District, Pangasinan) and manifested that the explanatory note attached to the bill be considered as the author’s sponsorship speech. HB 3641 Rep. Bagatsing Creating the community health worker The Committee suspended its deliberation of HB education and training program, 3641 to give the author the opportunity