The House of Representatives Appropriations Committee approved Bill 10373 which aims to extend the availability of 2021 credits until December 31, 2022.

The House measure, drafted by ACT-CIS party representative Eric Go, will amend Article 62 of the General Provisions of Republic Law 11518 or the General Appropriations Law for Fiscal Year 2021.

During deliberation on Wednesday, November 17, Northern Samar representative Paul Daza recommended that HB 10373 include a provision that will protect ongoing government projects with funding already committed but not disbursed.

“The various GAA provisions severely punish certain areas like mine, due to typhoons and pandemic problems. So now whether they are committed or not, if the funds are not disbursed, they return to the treasury, ”said Daza.

The committee also approved the funding arrangements for two priority measures submitted by the Speaker of the House, Lord Allan Velasco.

These are the Replacement Bill for HB 3031, which aims to establish the downstream natural gas industry of the Philippines, and the Replacement Bill of the Various House Measures Establishing the National Center for Geriatric Health and the research institute and regional centers of geriatric specialty in all public health establishments.

The panel also approved the following measures with amendments, namely the HBs 269 and 6857 substitution bill which establishes modern state-of-the-art hospitals in every region; the replacement bill for HB 9157 which seeks to rename the Literacy Coordination Council (LCC) into the National Literacy Council; the bill replacing HB 8210 which requires the Higher Education Commission (CHED) to establish a tripartite council that will deal with the country’s professional skills mismatch; the bill replacing the measures aimed at institutionalizing the use of the bicycle, defining the rights of cyclists, as well as the establishment of appropriate infrastructure and equipment; the Substitute Bill on Measures Granting Benefits to Filipinos in their 80s and 90s; the bill to replace measures granting honoraria, allowances and other privileges to officials of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK); the bill to replace the measures that establish the Magna Carta of Barangay health workers; and the HBs 5687 and 7778 substitution bill which aims to establish the Cordillera Autonomous Region.

The replacement bill to HB 8137, on the other hand, was approved without changes in its fund allocation provisions. This measure aims to extend the subsidy coverage to higher education.

The committee also approved, but subject to stylistic changes, the bill replacing various measures aimed at strengthening anti-trafficking policies. It will also revise RA 9028 or the “Anti-trafficking Law 2003”, as amended by RA 10364 or the “Extended Anti-Trafficking Law 2012”. (Melvin Sarangay)