Philippine Business Groups - Joint Foreign Chambers Press Conference on 16th Congress Legislation

1. Philippine Business Groups
- Joint Foreign Chambers
Press Conference on 16th
Congress Legislation
September 11, 2013, 10:00 a.m.,
JV Del Rosario Rm, 4/F AIM Conference Center

2. Philippine Business Groups-Joint
Foreign Chambers

3. Arangkada Philippines 2010
paper intended to
 A comprehensive advocacyto the creation of share
recommendations leading
 $75 billion in new foreign investment,
 10 million jobs, and
 Over one trillion pesos in revenue
for the Philippine economy within this decade.
•
The Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines advocates
that to achieve these results the country should focus on
more rapid development of the Seven Big Winner Sectors
and move twice as fast!!

4. The Arangkada Philippines Project
 TAPP is a 4-year USAID project with AmCham to advance
the 470 Arangkada recommendations.
 http://www.investphilippines.info/arangkada/
 http://www.investphilippines.info/arangkada/thearangkada-philippines-second-anniversary-assessment/

5. Legislation Policy Brief

6. Key Point
• The pace of legislation is hard to predict. Some bills move
through the Congress in surprisingly short periods. Others are
stuck for many years.
Pace of legislation, 26 bills in recent Congresses
Act/Bill
1. Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance
Act (RA 10353)
2. Anti-Trust
Year
Introduced
Years to
Date enacted/ parliamentary
enactment/
status
pending
1990
21-Dec-12
22 (pass)
1992
H-pending 2R; S-pending 2R
21 (pending)
3. Build-Operate-Transfer Law amendments
1996
17 (pending)
4. BSP Charter amendments
1997
5. CCT/GPB Tax Abolition (RA 10378)
6. Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Act
(RA 9497)
2011
H-TWG; S-pending in cmt.
H-pending 2R; S-pending in
cmt.
7-Mar-13
1993
4-Mar-08
15 (pass)
7. Customs Modernization and Tariffs Act
2008
8. Cybercrime Prevention Act (RA 10175)
2004
H-approved 3R; S-pending in
cmt.
12-Sep-12
9. Data Privacy Act (RA 10174)
2009
15-Aug-12
16 (pending)
2 (pass)
5 (pending)
8 (pass)
3 (pass)

7. Act/Bill
10. Department of Information and Communications
Technology
11. Exchange of Information on Tax Matters Act
(RA 10021)
12. Excise Tax on Alcohol, Cigarettes, and Tobacco
(RA 10351)
13. Freedom of Information Act
14. GOCC Governance Act (RA 10149)
15. Government Procurement Act amendments
16. Insurance Code amendments
17. Intellectual Property Code amendments
(RA 10372)
18. Land Administration and Reform Act
19. Repeal of Nightwork Prohibition for Women
(RA 10151)
20. National Land Use Policy
21. Philippine Design Competitiveness Act
(RA 10557)
Year
Introduced
Date enacted/
parliamentary status
Years to
enactment/
pending
2001
H-approved 3R; S-approved 3R 12 (pending)
2009
5-Mar-12
1 (pass)
2007
20-Dec-12
5 (pass)
1992
1998
2004
1987
H-pending 2R; S-approved 3R
6-Jun-11
H-TWG; S-pending in cmt.
15-Aug-13
21 (pending)
13 (pass)
9 (pending)
26 (pass)
2001
28-Feb-13
12 (pass)
2003
H-pending in cmt.;
S-pending in cmt.
10 (pending)
2002
21-Jun-11
9 (pass)
1993
H-3R approved; S-pending 2R
20 (pending)
2008
15-May-13
5 (pass)
22. Rationalization of Fiscal Incentives
1995
23. Reproductive Health (RA 10354)
24. Rural Bank Act amendments (RA 10574)
25. Sustainable Forest Management Act
26. Water Sector Reform
1995
1997
1995
1997
H-approved 3R;
S-pending in cmt.
21-Dec-12
24-May-13
H-approved 3R; S-TWG
H-TWG; S-pending in cmt.
18 (pending)
17 (pass)
16 (pass)
18 (pending)
16 (pending)

8. Key Point
• The last two Congresses have been productive, producing a
high number of business and economic reform measures – 22
in the 14th Congress (2007-10) and 29 in the 15th Congress
(2010-13).
Business and economic reform laws, by Congress, 2007-13
Law
Law No.
14th Congress (2007-10)
1. Anti-Camcording Act
RA 10088
2. Bureau of Food and Drugs Act amendments RA 9711
3. Civil Aviation Authority of the Phil. Act
RA 9497
4. Cooperatives Code
RA 9520
5. Credit Information System Act
RA 9510
6. Customs Brokers Act amendments
RA 9853
7. Documentary Stamp Tax Exemption
RA 9648
8. Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act RA 10124
9. Individual Income Taxes Rate Exemption
RA 9504
10. JPEPA Ratification
11. Magna Carta for MSMEs Act amendments
RA 9501
Date
Enacted
13-May-10
18-Aug-09
4-Mar-08
17-Feb-09
31-Oct-08
15-Dec-09
30-Jun-09
18-Jul-10
17-Jun-08
8-Oct-08
23-May-08

9. Law
14th Congress (2007-10)
12. National Grid Corporation Franchise
13. National Tourism Policy Act
14. Personal Equity Retirement Account (PERA) Act
Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp.
15.
amendments
16. Pre-need Code
17. Real Estate Investment Trust Act
18. Renewable Energy Act
19. Residential Free Patent Act
20. Revised Kyoto Convention Ratification
21. Tax Information Exchange Act
22. Tax on Life Insurance Premiums
Law No.
Date
Enacted
RA 9511
RA 9593
RA 9505
1-Dec-08
12-May-09
22-Aug-08
RA 9576
29-Apr-09
RA 9829 3-Dec-09
RA 9856 17-Dec-09
RA 9513 16-Dec-08
RA 10023 9-Mar-10
1-Feb-10
RA 10021 8-Mar-10
RA 10001 23-Feb-10

10. Law
Law No.
15th Congress (2010-13)
1. Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Law RA 10601
Date
Enacted
5-Jun-13
2. Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act RA 10353 21-Dec-12
3. Anti-Money Laundering Act amendments
RA 10167 18-Jun-12
4. Anti-Money Laundering Act amendments
RA 10365 15-Feb-13
Common Carriers Tax/ Gross Philippine Billings
5.
RA 10378 7-Mar-13
Tax
6. Conciliation-Mediation for Dispute Settlement RA 10396 16-Mar-13
7. Cybercrime Prevention Act
RA 10175
9-Sep-12
8. Data Privacy Act
RA 10173 15-Aug-12
9. Domestic Workers Act
RA 10361 18-Jan-13
10. Early Years Act
RA 10410 26-Mar-13
11. Enhanced Basic Education Act
RA 10533 15-May-13
12. Excise Tax on Alcohol, Cigarettes, and Tobacco RA 10351 20-Dec-12
13. Expanded Anti-trafficking in Persons Act
RA 10364
6-Feb-13
14. Extending Implementation of the Lifeline Rate RA 10150 20-Jun-11
15. Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act
RA 10142
18-Jul-10

11. Law
15th Congress (2010-13)
Law No.
Date Enacted
16. Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act
RA 10591
29-May-13
17. GOCC Governance Act
RA 10149
6-Jun-11
18. Intellectual Property Code amendments
RA 10372
28-Feb-13
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
RA 10157
RA 10606
RA 10174
RA 10557
RA 10587
RA 10151
RA 10354
RA 10349
RA 10574
RA 10395
RA 10168
20-Jan-12
19-Jun-13
16-Aug-12
15-May-13
27-May-13
21-Jun-11
21-Dec-12
11-Dec-12
24-May-13
14-Mar-13
18-Jun-12
Kindergarten Education Act
National Health Insurance Act of 2013
People Survival Fund
Philippine Design Competitiveness Act
Regulating Profession – Environmental Planning
Repeal of Nightwork Prohibition for Women
Reproductive Health Act
Revised AFP Modernization Act amendments
Rural Bank Act amendments
Strengthening Tripartism
Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act

12. Key Point
• Low Hanging Fruit or bills that almost reached enactment
in the 15th Congress.
Bill
1. Additional Relief to Families with Dependents
2. Chinese New Year as a Working Holiday
3. Customs Modernization and Tariffs Act
4. Department of Info and Communications Tech.
5. Direct Remittance to LGUs of 40% Taxes
6. Freedom of Access to Information
7. Lemon Law
8. National Land Use Act
9. Plastic Bag Regulation Act
10. Rationalization of Fiscal Incentives
11. Real Property Valuation
12. Regulating Profession - Criminology
13. Regulating Profession - Forestry
14. Regulating Profession - Pharmacy
15. Sustainable Forest Management Act
16. Whistle Blowers Protection Act
17. Witness Protection, Security, and Benefit Act
Final Status
H-approved 3R; S-approved 3R
H-approved 3R; S-approved 3R
H-approved 3R; S-pending in cmt.
H-approved 3R; S-approved 3R
H-approved 3R; S-pending in cmt.
H-pending 2R; S-approved 3R
H-approved 3R; S-pending in cmt.
H-approved 3R; S-pending 2R
H-approved 3R; S-pending in cmt.
H-approved 3R; S-pending in cmt.
H-approved 3R; S-pending in cmt.
H-approved 3R; S-pending in cmt.
H-approved 3R; S-pending in cmt.
H-approved 3R; S-pending 2R
H-approved 3R; S-TWG
H-approved 3R; S-pending 2R
H-approved 3R; S-pending 2R

13. Key Point
 Record of Congress in enacting revenue-reducing and
market unfriendly laws has improved.
Law
14th Congress (2007-10)
1. Agri-agra Law amendments
2. Aurora Pacific Economic Zone Act
3. Bataan Freeport Area Act
4. Cheaper Medicines Act
5. Eidul Adha Holiday
6. Expanded Senior Citizens Act
7. Income Tax Exemption and Condonation of Unpaid Taxes of Local
Water Districts
8. Tax Deductibility of Actual Free Legal Services rendered by
lawyers
15th Congress (2010-13)
None
Law No. Date Enacted
RA 10000
RA 10083
RA 9728
RA 9502
RA 9849
RA 9994
23-Feb-10
22-Apr-10
23-Oct-09
6-Jun-08
11-Dec-09
15-Feb-99
RA 10026
11-Mar-10
RA 9999
23-Feb-10

14. Key Points
• Greater attention should be given to the timely
approval and carrying out of IRR.
• A presidential EO can hasten introduction of a reform.
• LEDAC should meet regularly to facilitate coordination
between Executive and Congressional leaders. LEDAC
met only twice in 2011 in current administration.

15. Conclusions and
Recommendations
 Passage of business and economic reforms bills should
have high priority as they support investment and job
creation.
 The President’s Liberal Party and allies enjoy strong 3/4
majorities that can be very productive in accomplishing
legislative reform, more than the 15th Congress.
 Leveraging its high popular support, the Aquino
Administration should work closely with Congress to
pass significant reforms.

16. Conclusions and
Recommendations
 LEDAC should meet regularly to facilitate coordination and
maximize the legislative legacy of the Administration.
Alternately, the House Speaker and Senate President should
conduct “summits.”
 Passage of “Low-Hanging Fruit” bills should be prioritized.
 Market-inimical and revenue-eroding bills should be carefully
reviewed.
 Bills enacted should be implemented as soon as possible.
 The legislative workload should be front-loaded to pass bills
earlier rather than toward the end of the Congress, when the
2016 national elections will preoccupy legislators.

17. Priority Bills of the Business
Sector in the 16th Congress
 Key reforms that Congress should act upon at an early
date include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Competition policy/anti-trust (independent commission)
Customs Modernization and Tariffs Act/Anti-Smuggling
Economic Provisions of the Constitution amendments
Foreign Investment Negative List liberalization
Government Procurement Act amendments
Mining Fiscal Reform (competitive and equitable)
Rationalization of Fiscal Incentives
Transparency and Accountability in Fiscal Incentives.

18. Priority Bills of the Business
Sector in the 16th Congress
 Other important reforms include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Anti-Money Laundering Act amendments
Bangsamoro Basic Law
BSP Charter amendments
CAAP Act amendments
CCT/GPB Tax on freight (removal)
DICT creation
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act
Freedom of Access to Information
Labor Code reform
Land Administration Reform Act
Fiscal Responsibility Act
National Land Use Act*

19. Priority Bills of the Business
Sector in the 16th Congress
 Other important reforms include:
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
National Valuation Law
Ombudsman Act amendments
PPA Charter amendments
Professional Laws (reciprocity)
Public Services Act rationalization
Right-of-Way Act amendments
Sandiganbayan reforms
Sustainable Forest Management Act
Whistle Blowers Protection Act
Witness Protection, Security, and Benefit Act.

20. Thank You!