House Majority Leader Rep. Martin G. Romualdez on Sunday said that the lower chamber will zero in on the passage of the 2022 national budget bill as well as measures to boost the country’s efforts against COVID-19 as congressional session resumes tomorrow.

 

Romualdez, who also represents the first district of Leyte, said he anticipates that most of major concerns needed in the sustained campaign against the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic are included under the proposed P5.024-trillion national budget for 2022.

 

He said that the House leadership eyes to pass the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) before the October deadline of the filing of certificates of candidacies (COCs) for next year’s presidential polls.

 

“We will work hard to pass the 2022 national budget before the deadline of the filing of COCs. We will take advantage of the technology, in fact the Zoom has allowed us to have an engagement that is actually much more than what has been afforded by the actual presence of each and every member of the House,” Romualdez said.

 

He also added that the House has been pushing economic reforms and effective pandemic response measures such as the passage of the P401-billion Bayanihan to Arise as One Act or Bayanihan 3.

 

Acting on explicit instructions from House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, Romualdez said they will prioritize the approval of five bills earlier identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

 

These include the proposed Philippine Virology Institute Act, Center for Disease Control Act, Amendments to the Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016, Bureau of Immigration Modernization Act, and National Housing Development Act.

 

Romualdez said other related anti-COVID bills pending in various committees that the House of Representatives will pursue its approval are the Bisekleta para sa Kinabukasan Act, Online Registration of Voters, Accelerating Public Sector Investments in Local Infrastructure or Local Build, Build, Build Program, amendments to the Government Procurement Act, among other measures.

 

President Duterte will deliver his last SONA tomorrow at the Batasang Pmabansa. The Congress will also resume session tomorrow.