Quezon City 1st District Rep. Arjo Atayde on Thursday filed his top six priority bills at the House of Representatives.
“My first six bills are about issues that are close to my heart. Marami pa tayong kailangang matutunan tungkol sa paggawa ng batas. Ngunit ang maipapangako ko sa mga naghalal sa akin, tututukan natin at ipaglalaban ang mga panukalang ito,” the neophyte solon said.
Citing the need for greater health access in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, he is pushing for the upgrading of the Quezon City General Hospital into a fully-equipped medical center and the doubling of its bed capacity from 250 to 500 beds.
By tradition, Congress allows its members to personally file their priority bills and/or resolutions before Session starts in July.
Among Atayde’s priority bills are proposals on health and the entertainment industry.
Citing the need for greater health access in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, he is pushing for the upgrading of the Quezon City General Hospital into a fully-equipped medical center and the doubling of its bed capacity from 250 to 500 beds.
The lawmaker also proposed the creation of the Philippine Virology Science and Technology Institute, which failed to hurdle deliberations in the 18th Congress.
Atayde also filed a bill that would create a magna carta for barangay health workers.
“We have seen during the pandemic the dire working conditions of our barangay health workers. They have been overworked and underpaid. Umaasa tayong sa tulong ng Magna Carta for Barangay Health Workers ay maitaguyod natin ang kapakanan nila,” he said.
As one of the country’s premier actors, Atayde has also advocated for a safer working environment for workers of the movie and television industry through the “Eddie Garcia bill.”
He has also filed a bill that seeks to declare Quezon City as the “Film and Television Arts Capital of the Philippines.”
The Quezon City representative also vowed that he would be filing more bills upholding the people’s welfare soon.
Atayde also filed a bill prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression (Sogie).
The Quezon City representative also vowed that he would be filing more bills upholding the people’s welfare soon.
“This is just the beginning. We have only just begun. Patuloy po tayong makikipag-usap sa mga kababayan natin para madinig ang kanilang mga hinaing at matugunan ito sa pamamagitan ng paglikha ng batas na ayon sa kanilang tunay na pangangailangan,” said Atayde.
