The Senate seeks discussion on the direction and request of the Executive branch in terms of legislation, including proposals to rightsize government as the 19th Congress opens July 25.

‘’I shall seek clarification first with the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) and the DOF (Department of Budget and Management) before I make any further comment on rightsizing,’’ incoming Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said.

‘’What is important is that we convene the LEDAC (Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council) right after the SONA (State of the Nation Address) so we can discuss the direction and request of the executive department in terms of legislation,’’ Zubiri said in his Viber account.

Senators are expected to handle the proposed rightsizing of government operations as soon as the 19th Congress starts.

Rightsizing means reduction of government offices and personnel who have been assigned to posts with overlapping functions.

It is also at the LEDAC that lawmakers discuss what bills the President and the whole Executive branch want Congress to pass.

The chairman of the LEDAC is the Philippine President who is the only one who can call the council to a meeting. Members of the LEDAC are the Vice President; Senate President and three senators; the House of Representatives Speaker and three congressmen; seven Cabinet members that the President will choose; representatives of local governments, the youth and the private sector.

The LEDAC forms a list of common legislative measures that will merit priority for passage in Congress.

These measures go through the legislative mill - public hearings and debates. There were few LEDAC meetings in the past administration which observers said led to the veto of some bills.