The 19th Congress

Members of the 19th Congress are giving themselves a pat on the back for the laws they passed since 2022.

- ANA MARIE PAMINTUAN

But they will be remembered mostly for the controversial measures, the congressional inquiries, and of course the first-ever impeachment of a vice president of the republic.

First, let's recognize the work of the outgoing Congress. The first law to be enacted by President Marcos was the SIM Card Registration Act — meant to reduce cyberscams, although still not enough.

Also signed were the Public-Private Partnership Code, the Internet Transactions Act, the Magna Carta for Seafarers along with laws easing tax payments, extending the availment of the estate tax amnesty, promoting regional specialty centers and "Tatak Pinoy" as well as the "one town, one product" policy and promoting caregivers' welfare.

Other laws aimed to develop the local salt and natural gas industries, extended passport validity to 10 years, banned the "no permit, no exam" school policy and stopped the mother tongue program. Also signed were laws defining and penalizing agricultural economic sabotage, promoting mental health and well-being in basic education, modernizing Phivolcs, amending EPIRA, regulating motorcycle use to prevent crimes using the vehicle, making NEDA a full department, and creating an early childhood care and development system.

The coast guard chief was given a fixed term, and a law was enacted against financial account scams. The "Eddie Garcia Law" protects workers in the movie and TV industries.

And now for the contentious laws: among the first was the Maharlika Investment Fund Act, railroaded by Congress, which has so far been a boon — to its officials with fat paychecks.

The 19th Congress will always be notorious for its budget acrobatics and abuse of the power of the purse, to circumvent the Supreme Court ban on pork barrel-type funds in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).