Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva has been assigned as the Senate’s caretaker until the middle of June during the session break.
 
Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri signed Special Order No. 2023-020 (OSP) on June 1, 2023, designating Villanueva as Officer-In-Charge of the Senate of the Philippines starting from June 3 to 15, 2023 in lieu of the Senate President’s absence.
 
“Part of our role as majority leader is to step up when the leadership calls for it,” Villanueva said.
 
“Business as usual po tayo dito sa Senado kahit nag-adjourn na po tayo sine die nitong Miyerkules (It will be business as usual here in the Senate even if we have already adjourned sine die last Wednesday,” Villanueva said. 
 
Villanueva’s designation is pursuant to Rule IV of the Rules of the Senate, where “in the case of the temporary absence of the Senate President or the Senate President Pro-Tempore, the Majority Leader or in his absence, any of the two Deputy Majority Leaders, or any member designated by the President shall discharge the powers and duties of the President.”
 
According to Villanueva, the Senate will still continue to hold hearings even during the break, pursuant to adopted Senate Resolution No. 21 which gives full authority to “all regular standing committees oversight committees and special committees of the Senate to conduct hearings, meetings and consultations during every recess of the Senate to have continuity in the process of passing pending proposed legislations and to conduct investigations on issues of National Interests to aid in crafting relevant legislation.”
 
“Hindi po natatapos ang trabaho natin dito sa Senado (Our work here in the Senate doesn’t stop). Our colleagues have expressed to continue conducting hearings during the break,” he said.
 
Before the sine die adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 19th Congress, the Senate passed the controversial Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) bill which seeks to create the country’s first sovereign wealth fund, along with other landmark legislations such as the proposed “Trabaho Para sa Bayan” Act, which seeks to establish a National Employment Master Plan.
 
The Senate also passed the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Act, the bill extending the period of availment of the estate tax amnesty, bill rationalizing the disability pension of veterans, the bill institutionalizing the Shared Service Facilities (SSF) for MSMEs Act, “Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo” Act, and the Regional Specialty Centers Act.