Senate panel reviewing IRR of laws passed since 14th Congress proposed


Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri has sought the creation of a Senate Select Committee on the Status and Implementation of Laws that would review the implementing rules and regulations (IRRs) of all laws passed since the 14th Congress.

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri (Senate of the Philippines / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

Zubiri has filed Senate Resolution (SR) 527 which calls for the creation of a select committee on IRRs to determine their consistency with the laws they seek to implement and to inquire into instances when the failure of executive agencies to issue the implementing rules have caused the non-implementation of laws.

In filing the resolution, Zubiri cited that the 1987 Constitution provides that legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines, and that executive power shall be vested in the President of the Philippines who has control of all the executive departments, bureaus, and offices, and shall ensure that the laws are faithfully executed.

Zubiri cited that in a privilege speech entitled “The Spring Cannot Rise Higher than the Source” delivered on Sept. 14, 2020, Sen. Francis ‘’Tol’’ Tolentino raised alarm on the number of cases where IRRs adopted by executive departments are inconsistent with or go beyond the laws enacted by Congress.

In the discussions that followed, other senators also raised the issue of laws not being implemented because of the failure of the implementing agencies to issue the corresponding IRRs.

While recognizing that it is ultimately the Supreme Court which has the authority to strike down administrative issuances for being inconsistent with the Constitution or the law, Zubiri emphasized that Congress could play a major role in ensuring that administrative rules and regulations do not extend nor amend the legislative enactment they seek to implement, and that the laws passed by Congress are faithfully executed even without the adoption of administrative rules to implement the same.

The Rules of the Senate, Rule 10, Section 14 provides that “Whenever necessary, special committee shall be organized, the membership and jurisdiction of which shall be determined by the Senate President.”

The select committee shall be composed of the Chairman and four members to be appointed by the Senate President, with at least one member representing the minority.

Under SR 527, the select committee is empowered to conduct hearings and receive testimonies, reports, and technical advice, or to require the executive departments to submit such reports, documents, data, or information relating to administrative regulations, and shall submit its initial report indicating its findings and recommendations to the Senate, within 60 days from the date it first convened.

Senate panel reviewing IRR of laws passed since 14th Congress proposed

By MARIO CASAYURAN

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri has sought the creation of a Senate Select Committee on the Status and Implementation of Laws that would review the implementing rules and regulations (IRRs) of all laws passed since the 14th Congress.

Zubiri has filed Senate Resolution (SR) 527 which calls for the creation of a select committee on IRRs to determine their consistency with the laws they seek to implement and to inquire into instances when the failure of executive agencies to issue the implementing rules have caused the non-implementation of laws.

In filing the resolution, Zubiri cited that the 1987 Constitution provides that legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines, and that executive power shall be vested in the President of the Philippines who has control of all the executive departments, bureaus, and offices, and shall ensure that the laws are faithfully executed.

Zubiri cited that in a privilege speech entitled “The Spring Cannot Rise Higher than the Source” delivered on Sept. 14, 2020, Sen. Francis ‘’Tol’’ Tolentino raised alarm on the number of cases where IRRs adopted by executive departments are inconsistent with or go beyond the laws enacted by Congress.

In the discussions that followed, other senators also raised the issue of laws not being implemented because of the failure of the implementing agencies to issue the corresponding IRRs.

While recognizing that it is ultimately the Supreme Court which has the authority to strike down administrative issuances for being inconsistent with the Constitution or the law, Zubiri emphasized that Congress could play a major role in ensuring that administrative rules and regulations do not extend nor amend the legislative enactment they seek to implement, and that the laws passed by Congress are faithfully executed even without the adoption of administrative rules to implement the same.

The Rules of the Senate, Rule 10, Section 14 provides that “Whenever necessary, special committee shall be organized, the membership and jurisdiction of which shall be determined by the Senate President.”

The select committee shall be composed of the Chairman and four members to be appointed by the Senate President, with at least one member representing the minority.

Under SR 527, the select committee is empowered to conduct hearings and receive testimonies, reports, and technical advice, or to require the executive departments to submit such reports, documents, data, or information relating to administrative regulations, and shall submit its initial report indicating its findings and recommendations to the Senate, within 60 days from the date it first convened.