Social, human rights bills seen to pass before Congress adjourns

MANILA, Philippines - Three social and human rights bills pending in the Congress's bicameral conferences are expected to be passed before the legislative branch adjourns in February.

As of Dec. 20, 2012, the following bills are being fined tuned in their respective bicameral committees: House Bill 4643/Senate Bill 429 – Expanding the prohibited acts of discrimination against women on account of sex, amending for the purpose Articles 135 and 137 of the Labor Code of the Philippines; HB 4241/SB 1198 – Providing for early voting to qualified members of media; and HB 5990/SB 3334 – Providing compensation to victims of Human rights Violations during the Marcos regime.

“Those bills have been pending since the 9th, 14th and 11th Congress, respectively,” House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said, adding that the prospects for the enactment of the bills look promising.

Bills also being reconciled in the bicameral conferences include HB 4807/SB 2914 – Prohibiting Racial, Ethnic and Religious Discrimination; HB 6686/SB 2918 – Strengthening Conciliation – Mediation as a voluntary mode of dispute settlement for all labor cases; and HB 6685/SB 2921 – Strengthening Tripartism.

Once a bill is reconciled in a bicameral conference, both chambers of Congress ratify the measure before submitting it to the president for approval.

The 15th Congress is set to adjourn on Feb. 9 to give way to preparations for the upcoming midterm elections.

(2013-01-09/philstar)