Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Sunday, April 28 said he was confident that the Senate can pass at least 20 priority bills listed under the Common Legislative Agenda of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (CLA-LEDAC) before the Second Regular Session of the 19th Congress ends before June.
Zubiri said the Senate was right on track when it comes to the approval of bills prioritized by President Marcos, both in the LEDAC and in his State of the Nation Address (SONA). Congress will resume sessions this Monday, April 29.
“We are confident that the Senate can pass 20 of these measures before the 2nd Regular Session end, and the rest of our commitment before this year ends,” Zubiri said.
“Rest assured, all of the measures that passed Senate scrutiny have been carefully considered and thoroughly deliberated upon so that the resulting law is as near-perfect as humanly possible,” the Senate chief added.
Accordingly, one measure is already up for President Marcos’ signature—the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) Act—a framework that accounts for the country’s natural capital and its economic impact.
Meanwhile, the bicameral report on the proposed Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the measure establishing the Negros Island Region have already been ratified and now in the process of enrolment. The Senate, likewise, has also ratified the bicameral report on the proposed Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act.
Four of the 20 measures are nearing enactment into law already. The rest are for bicameral committee approval, for second and final reading approval, or awaiting committee approval, according to Zubiri.
“We are confident we can finish deliberations on these bills in its final stages before we adjourn sine die on May 24,” Zubiri said.
Meanwhile, the bill on Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act and the proposed Self Reliant Defense Posture Act (SRDP)—two priority measures—are both awaiting bicameral conference committee approval.
The Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act, on the other hand, is already approved on final reading and was transmitted to the House of Representatives for action.
Senate bills pending for second reading are the proposed Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming Act; VAT on Digital Services/Transactions Act; Amendments to the Government Procurement Reform Act; Blue Economy Act; Waste-to-Energy Act; Mandatory Reserve Officer's Training Corps (ROTC) Act; Unified System of Separation, Retirement and Pension of MUPs/New Separation, Retirement and Pension System for the Military and Uniformed Personnel; Enterprise Based Education and Training (EBET) Program Act, and the bill proposing amendments to the Universal Health Care Act.
“We will focus all our energies on these 20 measures before we adjourn for the 3rd Regular Session. After that, it is the President’s SONA again and the national budget season,” the Senate leader noted.
“But we are confident we can fulfill all of our legislative commitments to the President and to the people before this year ends,” Zubiri reiterated.