Regularization of House body on EAGA affairs pushed
Davao City (20 May) -- Davao del Norte second district Representative Antonio Lagdameo is optimistic that the Special House Committee on Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) will become a regular standing committee before the 14th congress ends this year.
In a meeting of the Special House Committee on BIMP-EAGA conducted here recently, the first ever special committee meeting held outside of Congress, the committee chaired by Congressman Lagdameo agreed to push for the regularization of the special house
committee on EAGA in view of the major policy support needed to further boost the participation of Mindanao and Palawan in the sub- regional cooperation.
"Right now, we can see that there is a big push for the development of Mindanao in the greater context of BIMP-EAGA. That's why the President is looking closely at Mindanao and tries to see how to develop the whole island and push for the cooperation of the four countries (BIMP) and China, Japan and Australia." said Lagdameo.
Present during the committee meeting are Rep. Arrel Olaņo (1st District, Davao del Norte), Rep. Ariel Hernadez (Anak Mindanaw party list), Rep. Jose Aquino II (1st district, Agusan del Norte) and Atty. Peachy Marcos, EAGA affairs committee secretary.
The committee was briefed on recent development updates in the BIMP-EAGA by the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), the Philippine Coordinating Office for BIMP-EAGA.
The House, according to its rules, shall have standing committees and special committees that shall be organized (except for the committee on rules, on the basis of proportional representation of the majority and the minority).
Moreover, the house rule defines standing committees as having jurisdiction over measures relating to needs, concerns, issues and interests affecting the general welfare and which require continuing or comprehensive legislative study, attention and action.
The House rule also pointed out that "special committees are intended to address measures relating to special or urgent needs, concerns, issues and interests of certain sectors or constituencies requiring immediate legislative action, or to such needs, concerns, issues and interests that may fall within the scope of the jurisdiction of a standing committee, but which the standing committee concerned is unable to act upon with needed dispatch".
It is on this pressing concern that MEDCo wanted to have a regular house committee that will focus on the necessary legislations to carry out the economic cooperation of the four countries.
"We need the support of our Mindanao legislators in the BIMP-EAGA initiative, particularly in pushing for policy reforms that will further enhance the participation of Mindanao and Palawan in the sub-region", said Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, MEDCo chair.
The House Committee on BIMP-EAGA Affairs handles all matters directly and principally relating to social, political, economic policies affecting the countries within the area, and the promotion of trade and investment among these countries.
It was also reported in the meeting that most of the Philippine-EAGA line agencies lack mobilization funds for EAGA-related affairs, thus hampering them to participate in major BIMP-EAGA meetings here and abroad.
Rep. Hernandez then stressed that need to push for budget allocation to Philippine-EAGA line agencies.
"Whatever concerns for Mindanao, Mindanao legislators are willing to take necessary actions especially on matters concerning the socio-economic development of the entire island." he added. (MEDCo/PIA XI) [top]
