Philippine President Aquino III urges Congress to pass economic reform bills

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III delivers his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) in his term of office during the Joint Session of the 16th Congress in Quezon City, Manila, the Philippines, July 22, 2013. (Photo : Xinhua/Benhur Arcayan)

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III urged Monday the Congress to immediately pass a number of economic bills that will help further improve the economy and continue with the reforms in the government.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Aquino called on the Congress to pass the proposed budget of 2014, which will be submitted by the executive branch on Tuesday. “I would also like to propose to Congress several laws that will help us sustain and improve on the reforms we have established,” he said in almost two-hour speech.

He asked the lawmakers to amend the Cabotage Law in order to foster greater competition and to lower the cost of transportation for the agricultural sector and other industries.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III is projected on an electronic board as he delivers his 4th State of the Nation Address during the joint session of the 16th Congress at the House of Representatives in suburban Quezon City, north of Manila, Philippines on Monday July 22, 2013. (Photo : AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

The president also wanted the Congress to enact the Fiscal Incentives Rationalization Bill, so that the incentives being provided to businesses become even clearer and more accountable.

He urged both Chambers to focus on the Land Administration Reform Bill, given the need for convergence among agencies tasked to oversee the land holdings. The chief executive called on Congress to revise the Civil Service Code, and to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law by 2014, among others.

Meanwhile, Aquino enumerated a long list of achievements from political changes to economic gains that took place in the first half of his six-year in office and outlined major tasks for the remaining three years of his term. <Xinhua/NEWSis>