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Estimates of the Provincial Revenue and Expenditure (EPRE) %u2013 2025/26 Financial YearPublic Participation and Education Public education is the catalyst of public participation and therefore MPLs continued to educate the communities to ensure effective participation in various government programmes. In order to deepened democracy, the Legislature continued participation with citizens and continued engagements through planned sectorial parliaments and commemoration of institutional days. The National and Provincial elections will take place during the 2024/25 financial year and programmes were geared towards preparing for the elections. The represented political parties in the Legislature will conduct voter education. Law Making A number of bills were considered including Railway Safety Bill, Transport Appeal Tribunal Amendment Bill, Marine Pollution %u2013 Prevention of Pollution from Ships Bill, Public Procurement Bill, Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill, Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land Bill and Older Persons Amendment Bill. 2.2 Key challenges One of the main challenges to fully implementing the programmes of the Legislature is the current fiscus constraints which hinders Legislature to fully implement its constitutional mandated. While efforts are being taken to ensure that Legislature realise efficiencies while implementing the allocated budget, engagements with Provincial Treasury are continuously demonstrating the need for additional allocation. Whilst there are many challenges Legislature faces there are equally also opportunities to improve in governance and administration to support the work of the Legislature. The leadership stability should propel ECPL to achieve the majority of the objectives as set out at the beginning of the term. 3 OUTLOOK FOR THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR (2025/26) Oversight The institution will continue to enhance oversight of the organs of state in the work of the Legislature with more focus on ensuring implementation of House Resolutions by the Executive for enhanced public accountability. This approach enables the Provincial Legislature to include site visits in its oversight function to incorporate evidence-based oversight while it continues with consideration of performance plans and reports in-year and annually working through Portfolio Committees. Public Participation and Education The annual state of the Province Address (SOPA) remains a standing programme of the House taking place in the month of February. To deepened democracy, public participation with citizens and continued engagements through sectoral parliaments with at least two planned for the financial year, Taking Legislature to the People and commemoration of institutionalised days. Facilitate the programmes to respond to Gender Based Violence and femicide through the work of Committees and the special programmes unit of the Provincial Legislature. Law Making The focus of the Legislature will continue to ensure that public hearings and consultations are done on a timely basis for all Bills introduced. There are Bills expected from the National Council of Provinces though unknown at this point, there are also annual Bills and those that will be carried over from the previous financial year. ICT Infrastructure strategy The institution will continue with the ICT infrastructure upgrades to enhance utilisation of virtual platforms with responsive software of the House will also be installed as part of continuing ICT 145