Legarda Authors 13 Laws, Ushers Senate Concurrence in 16 Treaties during the 15th Congress

During the 15th Congress, Senator Loren Legarda has authored thirteen measures that were enacted into law and has ushered the Senate concurrence in sixteen treaties and international agreements.

Legarda, who chairs the Senate Committee on Climate Change, Committee on Cultural Communities, and Committee on Foreign Relations, filed 149 bills as principal author and 25 bills as co-author. Thirteen of these bills are now laws.

Among the most notable of the bills she authored which were signed into law include the People’s Survival Fund Act, which provides a special fund for the financing of activities of local governments for climate change adaptation programs; the Domestic Workers Act, which provides additional social benefits, such as SSS and Philhealth, for domestic workers or kasambahay; and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, which aims to improve the efforts against human trafficking by covering attempted trafficking and accessory or accomplice liability and providing protection to trafficked victims.

She also co-authored Senate Joint Resolution No. 8, which aims to increase the Combat Duty Pay of all officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to 25% of their base pay.

Meanwhile, Legarda said she hopes that the proposed National Health Insurance Act of 2013 will be signed into law soon. This landmark legislation, which she principally authored, will ensure that the 25 million poorest Filipinos will have access to basic healthcare services under Philhealth.

She has also ushered the passage of 16 treaties and international agreements, including the International Labour Convention (ILO) 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers; and the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), for better protection and improved working conditions of seafarers.

“It was a very productive 15thCongress and I am glad that we were able to pass many vital pieces of legislation. In the next Congress, we will not stop until we have accomplished the other measures that we believe will further protect and benefit the Filipinos,” Legarda stressed.

The complete list of the measures authored and co-authored by Legarda that was enacted into law in the 15th Congress is as follows:

• Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 (Republic Act 10364)
• Domestic Workers Act (RA 10361)
• AFP Modernization Act (RA 10349)
• Decriminalizing Vagrancy (RA 10158)
• Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act (RA 10586)
• Environmental Planning Act of 2013 (RA 10587)
• Amending the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (RA 10372)
• World Interfaith Harmony Week (RA 10525)
• Amending the Charter of the People’s Television Network, Incorporated (RA 10390)
• Nightwork Prohibition of Women Employees (RA 10151)
• Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011 (RA 10152)
• People’s Survival Fund Law (RA 10174)
• Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 (RA 10533)