MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), through its Technical Committee on Legislative Matters (TCLM), convened a high-level meeting on 15 July 2025 at the Office of the Secretary Conference Room, DOLE Building, Intramuros, Manila, to discuss the Department’s legislative priorities for the 20th Congress of the Philippines. The Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) and the DOLE Legislative Liaison Office (DLLO) served as the Secretariat for the meeting.

The meeting was chaired by DOLE Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma, and co-chaired by DOLE Undersecretaries Benedicto Ernesto R. Bitonio, Jr. and Felipe N. Egargo, Jr. Assistant Secretary Amuerfina R. Reyes also attended, along with heads of DOLE offices, bureaus, services, and attached agencies. The Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) and the DOLE Legislative Liaison Office (DLLO) served as the Secretariat for the meeting.

During the meeting, Secretary Laguesma provided strategic direction and called for a thorough review of the Department’s legislative measures. “Review your proposed legislative measures. Check if proposals require new legislation or merely strengthen existing mandates or programs. It must also provide convincing justification for prospective sponsors,” Secretary Laguesma emphasized.

The committee’s discussions centered on key areas such as employment and human resource development, professional regulation for skills enhancement, and the strengthening of existing mandates and provisions related to productivity and occupational safety and health.

Moving forward, Secretary Laguesma concluded the meeting by noting that the list of legislative priority measures will be revisited and finalized for further vetting and review by the TCLM.

The 20th Congress of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives, will convene on 28 July 2025.

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