The 24-member Senate will convene for the opening of the 19th Congress on Monday, July 25 as it prepares to face head-on a struggling economy that is recovering from the effects of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and international conflicts.
Acting Senate President Pro Tempore Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri will lead the opening of the first regular session and the election of officers at the Senate plenary hall tomorrow.
Zubiri will bang the ceremonial gavel shortly after 10 a.m. to symbolize the opening of the session.
The senators are expected to elect their officers for the new Congress, including its Senate President, Senate President Pro-Tempore, majority leader, secretary and sergeant-at-arms.
The losing candidate for Senate President is traditionally elected as minority leader.
Zubiri will likely take the helm of the upper chamber as its 24th Senate President.
He had said that the Senate would prioritize passing a national budget that would include funding for a stimulus package that would provide assistance to distressed industries and sectors affected by the pandemic and current economic issues.
Zubiri also said that the Senate is looking forward to pass legislative measures to combat rising inflation, reinvigorate the economy, lower the prices of basic goods, and strengthen education policies.
The Senate will also welcome 12 of its newly-elected senators – three first-time senators, four reelected lawmakers, and five former legislators.
Customarily, senators participate in a ceremonial oath-taking and a photoshoot with their colleagues and spouses.
The neophyte senators are the following: Robinhood Padilla (26,612,434 total votes), Raffy Tulfo (23,396,954) and Mark Villar (19,475,592).
The five returning senators include Alan Peter Cayetano (19,295,314), Francis ‘’Chiz’’ Escudero (20,271,458), Joseph Victor ‘’JV’’ Ejercito (15,841,858), Jose ‘’Jinggoy’’ Estrada (15,108,625) and Loren Legarda (24,264,969).
Continuing their second consecutive term are four senators who won their reelection bids: Sherwin Gatchalian (20,602,655 total votes), Risa Hontiveros (15,420,807), Joel Villanueva (18,486,034) and Zubiri (18,734,336).
After the morning session, the Senators will proceed to the House of Representatives for a joint session of Congress to witness the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.