Photo credit: Cong. Miro Quimbo

House leaders are calling for closer coordination with the Senate to speed up the passage of priority measures under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), even as tensions continue to surround the upper chamber.

During a press conference on Monday, Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo proposed reviving the Joint Legislative Leadership Caucus, a mechanism previously used by House and Senate leaders to regularly coordinate on key legislation.

“Base sa karanasan ko noong time ni Speaker [Feliciano] Belmonte, mas marami kaming naipapasa noon because meron talaga kaming formal structure na binuo, ‘yung Joint Legislative Leadership Caucus,” Quimbo said.

According to Quimbo, the caucus brought together congressional leaders from both chambers every month to align legislative priorities and address potential roadblocks before bills reached plenary debates.

“Nagmi-meet yun every month para ilatag kung ano yung mga bills na pwede na natin talakayin at the same time. Siguro ito yung isang bagay para mas maraming magawa over the next two years,” he added.

The call comes as the House reported progress on the administration’s priority measures. Assistant Majority Leader Agatha Paula “Agay” Cruz said 20 of the 52 LEDAC bills have already been approved on third reading, while six more are targeted for approval before Congress adjourns.

“We are happy and proud to advise all that out of the 52 LEDAC measures, meron na po 20 na naipasa na po on third and final reading. And we hope before po tayo mag-adjourn ng ating session ay makapagpasa po kami ng additional na six na mga priority LEDAC measures,” Cruz said.

Among the measures being pushed for final approval are the Anti-Political Dynasty Act, Right to Information Act, Anti-Fake News and Disinformation Act, and amendments to laws on online sexual abuse of children and school feeding programs.

Assistant Majority Leader Antonino Roman III also highlighted the House’s recent legislative output, noting that lawmakers approved 36 bills on third reading and 29 measures on second reading last week alone.

Despite ongoing political developments, Quimbo stressed that Congress should remain focused on its primary responsibility of passing laws.

“We have to remember at all times, we have to keep work at the center and work is really legislation. So there are LEDAC measures for a reason because they’re a priority of the Executive and the Legislature,” Quimbo said.

He added that the House has shown it can continue legislating while carrying out its constitutional duties and expressed confidence that the Senate can do the same.

“I’m confident na pinakita ng House that we can perform both our constitutional duty relative to the impeachment, and at the same time our given mandate, our main mandate, which is to pass the legislation,” Quimbo said.

House leaders said they remain hopeful that both chambers can work together in the coming months to pass more priority measures that directly benefit Filipinos.