MAY 12, 2016

NR # 4198

17 national and 8 local bills pending in conference committees

As preparations for the presidential and vice-presidential canvass of votes continue,
both chambers of Congress are also finalizing a common priority legislative agenda to be
acted on before the close of the 16th Congress.
A cumulative statistical data of the House of Representatives, as of May 5, 2016,
shows that seventeen (17) measures of national concern and eight (8) local bills are
pending in conference committee.
The measures, after approval by their respective conference panels, must be ratified
by both chambers during the remaining days of the 16 th Congress before giving way to its
constitutional mandate of jointly conducting the presidential and vice-presidential canvass
of votes.
The measures pending in conference deal with issues like anti-graft and corruption,
housing, retirement benefits, agrarian reform, foreign trade, public transport safety,
investments and judicial concerns, among others.
The list of said legislative measures that need to be ratified by both chambers of
Congress after approval in conference committee include the following:
1) HB 772 An Act amending Presidential Decree No. 1638, otherwise known as
the AFP Military Personnel Retirement and Separation Decree of 1979, by amending a
new Section 25-A granting children/survivors who are mentally retarded exemption from
termination of benefits upon reaching 21 years of age, appropriating funds therefor;
2) HB 3785 An Act strengthening and institutionalizing direct credit support of
the Land Bank of the Philippines to Agrarian Reform beneficiaries, small farmers and
fisherfolk, further amending R.A. 3844, otherwise known as the Agricultural Land Reform
Code, as amended;
3) HB 4116 An Act strengthening the balanced Housing Development Program,
amending for the purpose R.A 7279, entitled An Act to provide for a Comprehensive and
Continuing Urban Development and Housing Program, establishing the mechanism for its
implementation and for other purposes;
4) HB 4146 An Act increasing the prescriptive period from 15 years to 30 years
for the violation of R.A. 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices
Act, amending Section 11 therefor;

5) HB 4730 An Act requiring business establishments to give exact change to

consumers;
6) HB 5076 An Act creating the Philippine Trade Representative Office and
appropriating funds therefor;
7) HB 5417 And Act regulating the Philippine Credit Card Industry;
8) HB 5617 An Act establishing the regulatory framework for the safe operation
of the liquefied petroleum gas industry and penalizing certain prohibited acts;
9) HB 5855 An Act reorganizing and modernizing the National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) and providing funds therefor;
10) HB 5911 An Act requiring the mandatory installation of speed limiter in
public utility and certain types of vehicles;
11) HB 6040 An Act banning the reappointment of a regular member of the
Judicial and Bar Council who has already served the full term;
12) HB 6268 An Act modifying the Compensation and Position Classification
System of the civilian government personnel and the base pay schedule of Military and
Uniformed personnel in the Government, and for other purposes; and
13) HB 6395 An Act removing/amending investment restrictions in specific laws
governing adjustment companies, lending companies, financing companies and
investment houses cited in the Foreign Investment Negative List , except those in the
Constitution.
The others in the list are bills granting or extending franchises to
telecommunications and broadcast companies in the country. (30) dpt