PRESIDENT SIGNS FOUR 'LANDMARK' BILLS INTO LAW

FOUR "landmark" bills became law following their signing by President
Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday.

Republic Act 9165, known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002,
aims to strengthen the government campaign to rid the country of the rising
drug menace.

The other laws signed by the President raised the soldiers' pay equal to
that of their counterparts in the Philippine National Police (PNP), gave tax
incentives to the film industry and provided protection to indigenous plant
varieties.

Under RA 9165, the death penalty would be imposed on a person found
possessing 50 grams of shabu, down from a high of 200 grams; 500 grams of
marijuana; 10 grams of opium, heroin, cocaine, Ecstasy tablets and other
drugs banned and deemed as dangerous by the law.

If, however, the suspect is found possessing less than what has been
stipulated for the death penalty, the suspect would be jailed for life. On
cases when the amount of drugs found is less than five grams, the penalty is
12 years in jail.

The law also mandates random drug testing for students, private and
government employees.

Under the bill increasing the base pay of soldiers, those with the rank of
private would receive a salary of Grade 10 or about P11,000. This, however,
would be implemented on a staggered basis for only up to two years.

The new law is described as a corrective measure to make soldiers' pay equal
to that of police officers.

It also mandates that henceforth, the Department of Budget and Management
(DBM) should review the AFP pay scale every five years.

The film industry likewise received a big boost with the creation of the
Film Development Council of the Philippines after a long wait of 20 years.

Opposition Sen. Vicente Sotto III, the principal author, explained the bill
had been pending since 1982 and its signing into law was a dream come true
for most of the industry leaders.

Under the law, a "tax reward" of 100 percent would be accorded to quality
films with an "A" rating and 65 percent to films with a "B" rating, with the
35 percent of the tax going to the council.

The Philippine Plant Variety Protection Act of 2002, meanwhile, provides
protection to the exclusive rights of farmers and breeders.

The new law provides for an intellectual property system to secure and
protect the rights of the breeders of new plant varieties, especially those
found beneficial to the people.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Loren Legarda told The Manila Times that
the President would not recognize the absentee voting bill passed by the
"new majority" in the Senate.

This was confirmed when the President said she is making the bill urgent to
be tackled when Congress resumes sessions on July 22.