The House of Representatives has prioritized a bill that seeks to grant the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) police powers as the chamber’s leadership underscored the need to swiftly address the unabated poisoning of the Laguna de Bay or Laguna Lake, the largest in the Philippines.

Heeding the warning issued by Laguna Rep. Edgar "Egay" S. San Luis, House Speaker Prospero Nograles declared House Bill (HB) 2963 as among the priority measures that the Lower House should approve into law.

Authored by San Luis, the bill seeks to strengthen the LLDA charter by granting the agency police powers in enforcing environmental laws and regulations. It likewise empowers stakeholders, particularly lakeshore communities, more participation in protecting the lake against environmental, natural, or man-made degradation.

San Luis said he is determined to correct the flaws of the present LLDA charter by pushing for approval of HB 2963.

"Unless this is done soon, the LLDA, despite its huge mandate that may not have been foreseen by the original drafters of its charter, shall remain essentially a paper tiger, with not enough teeth to go after big-time polluters and will be helpless to arrest the continuing deterioration of the lake," he said.