PBBM approves 21 priority bills with BARMM, social protection, and local development in focus

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (February 10) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved 21 priority legislative measures, including key laws affecting BARMM elections, social protection programs, and local governance reforms, during the Third LEDAC meeting of the 20th Congress at Malacañan Palace.

The package, aimed for passage by June 2026, seeks to enhance the quality of life for Filipinos across the country, with specific provisions expected to benefit communities in Mindanao and BARMM, where access to education, health services, and economic opportunities remains a priority.

BARMM and local governance spotlight

Among the priority measures with direct impact on Mindanao are:

• BARMM Elections Bill – ensures timely, credible, and peaceful regional elections.
• Anti-Political Dynasty Law – targets entrenched political dynasties that have long dominated local politics in parts of Mindanao.
• Party-List System Reform Act – strengthens representation for marginalized and underrepresented groups, including Indigenous peoples and Mindanao-based communities.
• Independent People’s Commission Act – provides an additional layer of oversight for government services, crucial in remote or conflict-affected areas.

Social protection and community development

Several bills address basic services and social safety nets, which are particularly significant for rural and conflict-affected communities in Mindanao:

• Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) amendments – expands support for poor households in remote towns.
• Masustansyang Pagkain Para Sa Batang Pilipino Act amendments – strengthens school feeding programs in underserved areas.
• GASTPE Act amendments – ensures scholarships and assistance for students and teachers in private schools, including in rural Mindanao.
• National Center for Geriatric Health – enhances healthcare access for senior citizens across the region.

Governance, transparency, and economic reforms

Other bills will strengthen government accountability, disaster preparedness, and economic resilience, benefiting Mindanao communities:

• Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures (CADENA) Act – allows citizens, including those in rural towns, to monitor local and national budgets.
• Waste-to-Energy Bill and EPIRA amendments – improve energy security and environmental management in urban and rural Mindanao.
• Rice Tariffication / RICE Act amendments – safeguard farmers’ incomes in major rice-producing areas of Mindanao.
• Travel Tax Abolition and Estate Tax Amnesty – reduce financial burdens on households and small business owners.

President urges swift passage

According to PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro, the President is “satisfied with the priority bills and expects them to be enacted before June,” emphasizing that the measures are designed to raise the standard of living, ensure transparency, and promote inclusive governance—particularly for communities in Mindanao and BARMM, where access to services has historically been limited.

“These laws are not just administrative reforms—they are lifelines for families in our most underserved towns and barangays,” Castro said.

With the LEDAC platform bridging the executive and legislative branches, the administration hopes to accelerate reforms, social protection, and regional development, ensuring that policies reach even the most remote areas of Mindanao.