Senate opens 2nd regular session of the 19th Congress
Published Jul 24, 2023 03:41 am
The 24-member Senate formally convened today, Monday, July 24 the opening of the Second Regular Session of the 19th Congress as the Upper House prepares to pass important measures to help the economy recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and other issues.
Senators, together with their respective spouses, pose for photo after the opening of the Senate's Second Regular Session on July 24, 2023. (Senate PRIB Photo)
Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri banged the gavel at exactly 10:05 a.m. to signal the opening of the session. Members of the diplomatic corps attended the ceremonial opening. The ceremony lasted for 25 minutes. Former Senate President Franklin M. Drilon and former Senate Majority Leader Francisco "Kit" Tatad also attended the opening rites. Except for Senator Pilar Juliana “Pia” Cayetano, the 23 other senators were all present, signifying the return to normal proceedings from the previous virtual and hybrid sessions due to the pandemic. In a letter to the Senate leadership, the office of Senator Pia Cayetano states that the lady senator is the head of the Philippine Women’s National Football Team I in its historic maiden participation at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, ongoing in New Zealand and Australia. After the morning session, the senators proceeded to the House of Representatives in Quezon City for a joint session of Congress to listen to the second State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. Earlier, Zubiri said the 24-member chamber, in resuming plenary sessions under the 19th Congress, aims to pass the proposed Public-Private Partnership Act, which will amend Republic Act (RA) 6957 or the “Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT)” Law; the creation of a National Disease Prevention Management Authority; the proposed Internet Transactions Act; the establishment of the Medical Reserve Corps and the Virology Institute of the Philippines; the reinstatement of the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Program; and the bill revitalizing the Philippines’ salt industry. Senators are also set to work on the approval of measures aimed at improving and streamlining government transactions and services, specifically: the proposed Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act; the proposed E-Governance and E-Government Act; Ease of Paying Taxes Act; the National Government Rightsizing Act; Automatic Income Classification of Local Government Units; and the bills providing for a Unified System for Separation, Retirement and Pension of Military and Uniformed Services; and a New Philippine Passport Law. The Upper Chamber chamber also sees the passage of the proposed Waste-to-Energy Act; Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers; the proposed “Trabaho Para Sa Bayan” Act; as well as the Anti-Financial Scamming Act, and proposed amendments to the Bank Secrecy Law, Zubiri said. Apart from the priority bills, Zubiri said the Senate is resolute in its commitment to help uplift the lives of Filipinos by pushing for an increase in the wages of workers through a legislated nationwide wage increase. The Senate Chief is also pushing for the approval on the third reading the Philippine Defense Industry Development Act (PDIDA), Cybersecurity Act, and proposed amendments to the procurement provisions of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Act. The Senate, Zubiri added, also continues to uphold and stand for the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the West Philippines Sea, Zubiri added. The Senate President earlier said the Senate is expected to adopt a Senate resolution of Sen. Risa Hontiveros calling for the government to bring China’s aggressive incursions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) before the United Nations General Assembly. The UN Arbitration Court rejected China’s ‘’historical’’ claim over most parts of the South China and favored the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the WPS.
Senators, together with their respective spouses, pose for photo after the opening of the Senate's Second Regular Session on July 24, 2023. (Senate PRIB Photo)
Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri banged the gavel at exactly 10:05 a.m. to signal the opening of the session. Members of the diplomatic corps attended the ceremonial opening. The ceremony lasted for 25 minutes. Former Senate President Franklin M. Drilon and former Senate Majority Leader Francisco "Kit" Tatad also attended the opening rites. Except for Senator Pilar Juliana “Pia” Cayetano, the 23 other senators were all present, signifying the return to normal proceedings from the previous virtual and hybrid sessions due to the pandemic. In a letter to the Senate leadership, the office of Senator Pia Cayetano states that the lady senator is the head of the Philippine Women’s National Football Team I in its historic maiden participation at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, ongoing in New Zealand and Australia. After the morning session, the senators proceeded to the House of Representatives in Quezon City for a joint session of Congress to listen to the second State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. Earlier, Zubiri said the 24-member chamber, in resuming plenary sessions under the 19th Congress, aims to pass the proposed Public-Private Partnership Act, which will amend Republic Act (RA) 6957 or the “Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT)” Law; the creation of a National Disease Prevention Management Authority; the proposed Internet Transactions Act; the establishment of the Medical Reserve Corps and the Virology Institute of the Philippines; the reinstatement of the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Program; and the bill revitalizing the Philippines’ salt industry. Senators are also set to work on the approval of measures aimed at improving and streamlining government transactions and services, specifically: the proposed Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act; the proposed E-Governance and E-Government Act; Ease of Paying Taxes Act; the National Government Rightsizing Act; Automatic Income Classification of Local Government Units; and the bills providing for a Unified System for Separation, Retirement and Pension of Military and Uniformed Services; and a New Philippine Passport Law. The Upper Chamber chamber also sees the passage of the proposed Waste-to-Energy Act; Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers; the proposed “Trabaho Para Sa Bayan” Act; as well as the Anti-Financial Scamming Act, and proposed amendments to the Bank Secrecy Law, Zubiri said. Apart from the priority bills, Zubiri said the Senate is resolute in its commitment to help uplift the lives of Filipinos by pushing for an increase in the wages of workers through a legislated nationwide wage increase. The Senate Chief is also pushing for the approval on the third reading the Philippine Defense Industry Development Act (PDIDA), Cybersecurity Act, and proposed amendments to the procurement provisions of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Act. The Senate, Zubiri added, also continues to uphold and stand for the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the West Philippines Sea, Zubiri added. The Senate President earlier said the Senate is expected to adopt a Senate resolution of Sen. Risa Hontiveros calling for the government to bring China’s aggressive incursions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) before the United Nations General Assembly. The UN Arbitration Court rejected China’s ‘’historical’’ claim over most parts of the South China and favored the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the WPS.