Presidential Legislative Liaison Office

PLLO convenes 45 agencies to fast-track the President’s priority measures

Members of the Legislative Liaison System (LLS) from 45 national government agencies and instrumentalities, including government -owned or -controlled corporations and government financial institutions, convened Thursday, March 12 at the Romualdez Hall at the House of Representatives to strengthen inter-agency coordination and collaboration for the swift passage of priority measures of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.. Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) previously identified 21 out of its pending Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) targeted for enactment by the end of the first regular session of congress in June this year.

The plenary meeting, organized by the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO), gathered legislative liaison officers and senior representatives from executive departments to align strategies with Congress on advancing key administration bills.

PLLO Officer-in-Charge Undersecretary Bernardino E. Sayo called on agencies to close- ranks and intensify advocacy efforts while maintaining complementarity of objectives and synchronizing of strategies for all target measures.

The LLS functions as the Executive branch's advocacy arm, engaging with Congress to provide policy input, foster consensus, and deliver technical assistance for legislative processes, thereby supporting the advancement of the administration’s legislative agenda.

At the LLS meeting, clusters of agencies were formed known as the President’s Legacy Operations Team (PLOT) to ensure focus to every item on the CLA short list.

HAPPENING NOW: The Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) convenes the Legislative Liaison System Plenary Meeting, bringing together legislative focal persons and partner agencies to strengthen coordination in advancing priority legislative measures.

With only a few remaining session days before the session break in Congress, the plenary serves as a venue to identify possible ways of fast-tracking priority bills, address issues affecting their legislative progress, and reinforce collaboration between the Executive and Legislative branches.

The program features an inspirational and welcome message from DSG David Robert Amorin, House of Representatives Deputy Secretary General for Legislative Operations and an audio-visual message from Rep. Ryan Recto (6th District, Batangas), along with discussions on the Policy Legacy Operations by Asec. Lamberto L. Santos III, and the strategic advocacy interventions thru the SALVO Mechanism led by Usec. Bernardino E. Sayo, OIC-Undersecretary and Head of PLLO.

Through plenary discussions and workshop sessions, participants aim to surface key legislative concerns and recommend actionable strategies to support the timely passage of priority measures.

HAPPENING NOW: Pursuant to the President’s directive to transform the government into a more competent and responsive bureaucracy, the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) is currently conducting a Capacity Upgrading on Government Protocol in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs – Office of Protocol.

The activity brings together PLLO officials and personnel for a learning session aimed at strengthening their understanding of proper diplomatic and government protocol. The training highlights the importance of observing appropriate standards and practices in official engagements, coordination with partner agencies, and interactions in formal government settings.

This capacity-upgrading activity forms part of PLLO’s continuing efforts to equip its personnel with the knowledge and skills needed to support effective governance and deliver responsive public service.

Dir. Maria Angelica Genotiva, Director for Socials of DFA Office of Protocol served as the resource person and workshop facilitator.

HAPPENING NOW: The Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) is currently holding a Small Group Discussion (SGD) on the proposed Waste-to-Energy (WTE) bill, bringing together key stakeholders from relevant government agencies and legislative offices.

The SGD underscores the shared commitment to advancing a more comprehensive and responsive policy framework on sustainable waste management, with current discussions revolving around policy, technical, environmental, and fiscal aspects of the proposed measure.

In facilitating SGDs on key LEDAC priority measures, such as the WTE bill, the PLLO remains steadfast in promoting constructive engagement between the Executive and Legislative departments, ensuring that policy proposals undergo thorough deliberation and are aligned with national development priorities.

Ang mga panukala na target maipasa nitong Hunyo ay naglalayong mapabuti ang kalidad ng pamumuhay ng mga Pilipino, mapalakas ang social protection, at maisulong ang transparency at accountability sa pamahalaan.

Basahin: https://pco.gov.ph/Xu82Zc

HAPPENING NOW: The Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) is convening a Small Group Discussion (SGD) on the proposed Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act to further refine and harmonize the bill’s key provisions.

The SGD focuses on key issues, including the functions of the NFA, creation of a Rice Council, the establishment of a Rice Industry Development Office, and the strengthening of rice quality regulation.

This collaborative effort brings together concerned government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and Department of Finance (DOF). Representatives from the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) and the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs (ODESLA) are also in attendance.

This initiative is in line with the President’s directive, as the proposed RICE Act is among the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) priorities. Through this process, the PLLO fulfills its mandate to facilitate coordination between the Executive and Legislative branches by refining priority legislation and building consensus prior to its endorsement to Congress for further deliberations.

Congress Tackles Party-List Reforms

Reform of the party-list system has re-emerged as a legislative priority in the 20th Congress of the Philippines alongside anti-dynasty and other political reform bills. Senate President Vicente Sotto III in a press statement confirmed that party-list reform measures are high in the Senate agenda, as part of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council’s (LEDAC) common legislative agenda.

For his part, Speaker of the House Faustino "Bojie" Dy III has declared the reform of the party-list system a priority in Congress, aligning with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to ensure genuine, sector-based representation. According to him, “The primary goal is to return the system to its original constitutional mandate of providing a voice to marginalized sectors and to prevent its abuse by powerful interests and political clans”.

Concerns motivating reform include widespread perceptions that the party-list system has been “abused and used as a vehicle to pursue advocacies not aligned with its original purpose” and that many nominees lack genuine connection to marginalized sectors. Additionally, independent reports show that party-list groups with ties to political families or business interests have proliferated, potentially undermining the system’s intended inclusive representation model.

Reforming the party-list system in short, is restoring the integrity of representation, protecting political equality, and reaffirming the Constitution’s vision of a democracy rooted in inclusion and social justice. Effective reform strengthens public trust in democratic institutions by showing that the system can correct distortions and remain faithful to its purpose.

How do the current Congressional initiatives in this regard stack up against the present law? Here are common features in both the Senate and House versions that aims to restore the system's original intent to represent marginalized sectors:

• Anti-Political Dynasty Measures: Both chambers have filed bills that aim to explicitly prohibit political dynasties, although the exact definitions and degrees of relation for disqualification may vary between specific bills.
• Disqualification of Government Contractors: Both chambers' key bills seek to disqualify individuals who are currently, or have been, involved in government contracts to prevent conflicts of interest.
• Enhanced COMELEC Vetting: Both proposals aim to strengthen the Commission on Elections' (COMELEC) power to screen and disqualify party-list applicants and nominees through mandatory public hearings to verify their authenticity and representation of claimed sectors.
• Removal of the Three-Seat Limit: Both the Senate and House bills include provisions to remove the current three-seat cap for winning party-list groups, aiming for more proportional representation that scales with public support.
• Prohibition of Certain Party-Lists: Both sets of measures also prohibit party-list groups that use names of TV/radio programs, government assistance programs, or public figures.
The bills in both chambers generally aim to restore the party-list system’s original intent of representing marginalized and under-represented sectors rather than entrenched political interests. This is to be achieved tightening nominee eligibility and by excluding dynastic politicians or those with government contracting interests.

Ultimately, party-list reform is not simply about regulating parties or nominees—it is about ensuring that Philippine democracy remains responsive to those who are most often unheard, and that the lawmaking process genuinely reflects the diversity of the nation’s social realities.

Proposed Geriatric Care Law to Benefit Senior Citizens

Expanded health care for senior citizens continues to advance in Congress as the House of Representatives approved House Bill No. 6739 on 3rd Reading, establishing a National Center for Geriatric Health, while the Senate has approved Senate Bill No. 1509 on 2nd Reading, a consolidated measure on geriatric care.

Both measures respond to the country’s transition toward an aging society, with Filipinos aged 60 and above projected to reach at least 12 million by 2030. Existing laws provide benefits to senior citizens, but gaps remain in specialized services, workforce development, research, and long term care.

The Senate Geriatric Act builds the national architecture for geriatric care, mainstreaming it across agencies, facilities, and professional education. Complementing it is House Bill 6739 that constructs the institutional keystone that can sustain that architecture through specialization, research, and technical leadership. If harmonized at the bicameral level, both measures can strengthen the national geriatric health system and support the implementation of Universal Health Care, in line with the President’s legislative agenda on inclusive social protection and improved public service delivery.

PLLO has worked closely with congressional leaders and committee secretariats to ensure that priority health and social development measures, are properly tracked, harmonized with executive policies, and advanced in accordance with the President’s legislative agenda.

HREP PASSES 12 ADMINISTRATION PRIORITY BILLS SUPPORTING PUBLIC WELFARE INITIATIVES

The Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) highlights the passage by the House of Representatives of 12 priority measures identified by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the 20th Congress. The measures reflect the Administration’s policy agenda focused on inclusive growth, social protection, economic resilience, and sustained improvements in public service delivery. The approved bills have been transmitted to the Senate for deliberation and eventual enactment into law.

As the executive arm assigned to coordinate and monitor priority legislative initiatives, the PLLO underscores the positive impact these measures will bring to Filipino families, communities, and the economy. The recently passed bills are designed to address urgent public concerns such as:

Health and Social Services
• Expanded Social Protection Act: Strengthens social safety nets for vulnerable populations, ensuring better access to healthcare services and financial support for low-income families.

Education and Skills Development
• Education Sector Modernization Bill: Enhances access to quality education and supports funding for upskilling and technical training — enabling more Filipinos to compete in a global workforce.

Economic Growth and Job Creation
• Microenterprise and MSME Support Act: Provides incentives, credit access, and business development services for small enterprises — a critical engine of local employment and innovation.

Good Governance and Public Accountability
• Transparency in Government Transactions Act: Reinforces open data policies and strengthens accountability mechanisms to curb corruption and boost public trust.

Digitalization and Innovation
• National E-Governance Framework Act: Accelerates digital transformation of government services, making them faster, more accessible, and citizen-centric.

Climate Resilience and Sustainability
• Climate Action and Resilience Act: Fortifies community resilience to disasters by promoting sustainable development and proactive climate adaptation strategies.

Infrastructure Development
• Reduced logistics costs, leading to more affordable goods and services as well as better access to schools, hospitals, markets, and workplaces—especially in rural and underserved areas

Agricultural Modernization
• Higher farm productivity through access to modern tools, technology, and support services resulting to more stable food supply, helping keep prices affordable

Consumer Protection
• Stronger protection against unfair trade practices, scams, and defective products as well as clearer consumer rights and faster complaint resolution mechanisms

Efficient Public Administration
• More transparent and accountable public service delivery through expanded use of digital platforms, saving time and costs for citizens

The PLLO reaffirms its mandate to serve as a coordinating link between the Executive and Legislative branches, ensuring that priority measures are aligned with national development objectives and responsive to the needs of the Filipino people. As these measures proceed to Senate consideration, the PLLO will continue to extend technical support, policy inputs, and inter-agency coordination throughout the legislative process.