PHILIPPINE lawmakers will begin talks to harmonize their versions of a bill reorganizing the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) into the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), elevating it to a full-fledged government agency.
In a statement, Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith T. Flores said a joint panel of senators and congressmen would meet on Jan. 22 to deliberate legislative differences between House Bill (HB) No. 11199 and Senate Bill (SB) No. 2878.
“Both bills essentially update and upgrade the mandates and structure of NEDA. The resulting improvements make it necessary to formalize NEDA as a new department,” he said.
“[The two bills will] undergo meticulous reconciliation because the provisions are many, over 40 sections, and written differently,” he added.
Mr. Flores said it would be “quite probable” for a reconciled version of the proposal to be given to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. before the 19th Congress ends.
The Senate gave a nod to SB No. 2878 in December, while the House approved its version in January. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
