President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. convened the fourth Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting at Malacañang on Thursday, August 6, to press congressional leaders on 24 priority bills, including the long-stalled Anti-Political Dynasty Law and a Freedom of Information law, that his administration wants enacted before the end of June 2027. The session went ahead even as government work was suspended nationwide due to Tropical Storm Maymay.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said Marcos insisted on proceeding with his schedule despite the weather. "Hindi mapipigilan ang Pangulo sa pagtatrabaho kahit pa may bagyo (Nothing can stop the President from working even during typhoon)," Castro told reporters at a Malacañang press briefing, according to The Manila Times.
What's on the list
Among the priority measures are the Anti-Political Dynasty Law, the Party-List System Reform Act, the People's Freedom of Information/Right to Information Act, and amendments to the Bank Deposits Secrecy Law — known as the BRIGHT Act — which would ease bank secrecy rules to aid corruption investigations.
The agenda also includes the Philippine Budgeting Code; the Promoting Growth, Revenue, and Equity Towards Socio-Economic Sustainability (PROGRESS) Bill; a General Tax Amnesty, including an estate tax amnesty; a travel tax abolition measure; and amendments to the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act and the Fisheries Code, per The Manila Times' report on the meeting.
Other measures track priorities Marcos laid out in his fifth State of the Nation Address on July 27, including amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act — covering the abolition of system loss charges and a strengthened Energy Regulatory Commission — along with education, nutrition, and social welfare bills such as amendments to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act and the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program Act.
A recurring pledge
Thursday's meeting was the fourth full LEDAC session of the Marcos presidency. The third, held February 10, had identified 21 priority measures for passage — three fewer than the current list, meaning some bills have carried over without being enacted. The Anti-Political Dynasty Law in particular has appeared on the administration's priority list in multiple LEDAC sessions dating back to 2023 without reaching a floor vote in either chamber, a pattern consistent with the bill's decades-long history of stalling in Congress regardless of administration.
LEDAC, created under Republic Act 7640, brings together executive and legislative officials to coordinate priority legislation and is constitutionally mandated to meet at least once a quarter. The council itself does not pass laws — it is a coordinating body — meaning Thursday's endorsements still require the House and Senate to draft, deliberate, and reconcile separate bills before any measure reaches the President's desk.
Pulpulitiko has not identified any statement from Malacañang addressing why the anti-dynasty and FOI measures — both of which face direct resistance from incumbent officials with dynastic or opacity-related interests — have not advanced despite repeated LEDAC endorsements. Congressional leadership has not issued a joint response on the bills' expected timelines as of this writing.
Context
The Anti-Political Dynasty Law would implement a constitutional provision, in place since 1987, that has never been given enabling legislation because Congress itself is heavily composed of political dynasties. A 2019 Ateneo School of Government study found that roughly 80% of provincial governors and a majority of House members at the time belonged to political dynasties. The FOI bill, meanwhile, has been filed in nearly every Congress since the 1990s and has repeatedly failed to pass the Senate even after clearing the House in earlier congresses.
Sources
- President Marcos discuss 24 priority bills at 4th LEDAC meeting — The Manila Times
- Marcos to discuss 24 priority bills targeted for passage by June 2027 — Palace — Manila Bulletin
- Palace: Anti-dynasty bill still Marcos Jr. priority — Philippine Star
