The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the proposed Magna Carta for the Poor and 10 other measures as the chamber’s leadership took advantage of a plenary quorum that could become a problem as the election campaign period draws near.

Also approved and sent for Senate action were measures creating the Mindanao Development Authority and the mandatory wearing of helmet by motorcycle riders.

With 168 lawmakers present during the Monday session, the House leadership immediately presented the measures for third reading approval, wary that quorum may come rarely in the session days to come.

House Bill 6915 or the Magna Carta for the Poor mandates government to make available the conditions and opportunities to improve the condition of the poor. Such requisites can be demanded by a poor person as a matter of right.

Deputy Speaker Raul V. Del Mar, one of the authors of the measure, said HB 6915 guarantees the poor the right to food, right to employment and livelihood, right to quality education, right to shelter and right to basic health services and medicine.

HB 6958 which creates the Mindanao Development Authority is another social reform measure that was sent to the Senate for its action. The MinDA is mandated to “promote, coordinate and facilitate the active and extensive participatioin of all sectors to pursue peace and development in the region.

Buhay Reps. Rene Velarde, Irwin Tieng and Ma. Carissa Coscolluela were behind the approval of HB 6924 that makes it mandatory for all motorcycle riders to wear standard protective helmets.

Velarde said the bill will address the safety issues brought about by the sudden increase of Filipinos who have resorted to motorcycles as a means of transportation. Fines ranging from P1,500 to P10,000 will be imposed against violators.

Also included in the list of measures approved on third and final reading are: HB 6926 amending the Election Code; HB 2912 amending the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995; HB 6905 setting synchronized time devices in the country; HB 6899 amending the National Internal Revenue Code of 1995; HB 2882 creating the Philippine Rubber Research and Training Center; HB 6841 protecting the rights of students to enroll in review centers of their choice; HB 6816 granting legislative franchise to the Aurora Technological Institute and HB 6903 strengthening the ladderized interface between technical vocational education and training and higher education.

Speaker Prospero Nograles, who authored HB 6899, said the measure provides the law that would make the country compliant to the Internationally Agreed Tax Standards for exchange of information. He sadi this would effectively carry out the country’s commitments under bilateral tax treaties designed to combat tax abuses.