Two more bills filed by Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) are nearing passage into law, and P5.3 billion has been allocated for infrastructure projects in the 3rd District of Negros Occidental in the past two years.

About to become laws are House Bill 7819, commonly known as the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, and House Bill 73 or the proposed Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) law, Benitez said at a press conference in Talisay City on Saturday, March 16.

The Maritime Zones Act has undergone a Bicameral Conference Committee review and is up for ratification by both Houses of Congress, while the PENCAS bill is awaiting the signature of the president to become a law, Benitez said.

House Bill 7819 was crafted to provide a comprehensive framework for delineating the various maritime zones under the nation’s jurisdiction.

It categorizes the nation’s maritime zones as internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, EEZ, and continental shelf.

The bill seeks to bring clarity to the geographical extent of the Philippine maritime domain while concurrently elucidating the legal powers that the Philippines possesses and may exercise over these designated zones.

The PENCAS bill seeks to ensure an accounting of the country’s natural resources, which are a driving force in the Philippine economy.

It will require the National Economic and Development Authority and the Philippine Statistics Authority to conduct an economic valuation of ecosystem services, Benitez said.

PENCAS will require the gathering of data to assess the physical and monetary worth of ecosystems, including forests, watersheds, and coastal and marine areas, he said.

Benitez has also filed numerous other bills covering housing, education, cultural heritage, creative industries, health, the blue economy, digital transformation and sports.

Meanwhile, the P5.3 billion infrastructure projects for the Third District include P2.2 billion for flood control and P1.7 billion for roads.

Health and social services in the Third District also received P118.1 million.*