Year-end report:
Senate passes 8 out of 9 LEDAC priority
bills, total of 18 measures - Villar

The Senate has passed on third and final reading four more bills yesterday before it adjourned for the holidays, bringing to 18 the total number of measures passed since the opening of the 14th Congress.

Senate President Manny Villar said, "This substantiates the commitment and will of the Senate to bring about reforms in our system and to uplift the lives of our people through timely and meaningful legislation."

The newly approved measures are: (1) the new University of the Philippines (UP) Charter; (2) the Credit Information System Act; (3) Civil Aviation Authority; and the (4) World Health Day.

"I acknowledge the hard work and team effort put in by our senators in such record-setting accomplishment of the Senate," Villar stressed.

The Senate is normally unable to pass measures during the First Regular Session but "this time, we have already approved 18 bills," he added.

The UP Charter Act shall be the new statute to govern the entire UP system. Passed in time for the UP centennial in February 2008, it envisions a national university catering to the brightest and most talented Filipino students through expanded scholarships, research and development, and modern education.

Meanwhile, the Credit Information System Act promotes sound banking practice through the institutionalization of credit worthiness among individuals and corporate account holders.

The Civil Aviation Authority Act is geared towards the modernization of air transportation services, promoting the security and protection of air passengers. The World Health Day bill provides for the celebration of World Health Day on May 7 of every year.

The passage of the measures also brings to eight the total number of bills passed by the Senate out of the nine priority legislation identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

These consist of the (1) 2008 General Appropriations Act (GAA); (2) Magna Carta for Small and Medium Enterprises; (3) Cheaper Medicines Bill; (4) Personal Equity and Retirement Account Act; (5) Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) extension; (6) the Civil Aviation Authority; (7) the UP Charter; and the (8) Credit Information System Act.