Senate approves final reading on anti-red tape bill certified as urgent by PRRD

October 19, 2020 10:20 AM

The Senate approves on third reading the bill that grants the President anti-red tape powers—which PRRD certified as urgent. Photo source: Albert Alcain

Today (October 14), the Senate approved on third and final reading the bill that grants the President anti-red tape powers that authorize him to speed up the processing of permits, licenses, and certifications during times of national emergencies.  

President Duterte wrote a letter to Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III in which he certified the Senate Bill No. 1844 (entitled  “An act authorizing the President to expedite the processing and issuance of national and local licenses, permits, and certifications") as urgent. 

He stressed that the passage of the bill will “facilitate economic activity, accelerate the socio-economic recovery of the country, and ensure the prompt delivery of public services in times of national emergency such as the present COVID-19 pandemic.” The President hopes the bill can simplify the processes so people will no longer need to wait in long lines, nor go on multiple visits to government offices. 

The passage of bills that are certified as urgent by the President is expedited in Congress. The policy that requires lawmakers to deliberate on the bill for at least three days before voting will not apply to those certified as urgent. 

This means that the Senate will directly move on to the third reading approval of the bill. 

The Act will cover all agencies of the Executive branch, including departments, bureaus, offices, commissions, boards, councils, government instrumentalities, government-owned and controlled corporations. 

Likewise, the President is granted the authority to "suspend or remove, upon the determination of a competent body, any government official or employee" who will act contrary to the bill. 

The bill was principally authored by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Senator Panfilo Lacson.