Philippine president urges Congress to enact key economic bills

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. 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.