MANILA — Congressional leaders from the Senate and House of Representatives may meet this week ahead of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council on June 25.

"Tentative pa lamang itong darating na Huwebes pero di pa nafafinalize kung  available nga ba lahat dahil maramirami yung makikipag pulong sa panig nila at sa panig namin. Legislative Agenda at yung napipintong LEDAC sa June 25 yun ang priority na pag-uusapan namin sa pagpupulong na yun," Escudero said.

(It is tentatively set this week but it has to be finalized because of the number of attendees. We will discuss our agenda and the upcoming LEDAC on June 25.)

Escudero will lead a Senate delegation that includes Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Senator Majority Leader Francis Tolentino and the Senate Secretariat.

Escudero  said they were still crafting their agenda and they would rather discuss it first at the meeting with lawmakers from the other chamber. Escudero said they remained open to suggestions.

Latest data from the Senate showed that from July 24, 2023 to May 22, 2024 or the Second Regular Session of the 19th Congress, 41 bills were signed into law, of which 18 are national in scope.

The national laws include the Tax Amnesty Act, Rationalizing the Disability Pension Of Veterans, Trabaho Para Sa Bayan Plan, Automatic Income Classification of Local Government Units, Caregivers Welfare Act, Internet Transactions Act, Ease of Paying Taxes, "Tatak Pinoy" Act, Expanded Centenarians Act, No Permit No Exam Prohibition Act, and the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act, among others. 

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has signed into law the “Eddie Garcia Law” last May 24. 

The proposed Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act, Free College Entrance Examinations Act, Organizational Reforms in the Philippine National Police, Negros Island Region Act and the Bulacan Airport City Special Economic Zone and Freeport Act are all waiting for President Marcos, Jr.’s signature.

Both the House and Senate have  approved the proposed Magna Carta for Seafarers, Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, Anti Financial Account Scamming Act, New Government procurement Act and the creation of Additional Shariah Courts.

Based on Senate data as of May 22, 14 bills in the Common Legislative  Agenda of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council which were set for passage by the end of the 2nd regular session remain pending. Twenty-four other LEDAC priorities also remain pending in various stages in the Senate. 

The LEDAC is a consultative and advisory body to the President as the head of the national economic and planning agency for further consultations and advice on certain programs and policies essential to the realization of the goals of the national economy. The LEDAC also serves as a venue to facilitate high level policy discussions on vital issues and concerns affecting national development.