Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte (Rep. Villafuerte's Facebook)

Following Congress' five-week recess, Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte has called on the Senate to take action on several House-approved bills that would greatly benefit various sectoral groups.

“I am asking our senators to consider bills that the House passed separately last year to provide succor or relief to four sectors, in keeping with President Marcos’ goal of attaining inclusive growth and improving the lives of all Filipinos,” Villafuerte said in a statement on Sunday, Jan. 21, a day before the scheduled resumption of sessions.

These House-approved measures include House Bill (HB) No. 6557, which aims to give job security to barangay health workers; HB No. 8325, which seeks to provide local and foreign specialist doctors to migrant workers and their families at the OFW Hospital; and HB No. 9347, which looks to furnish out-of-school youths with training and other social protection programs.

Additionally, the National Unity Party (NUP) president also hopes the Senate will consider HB No. 8203, which aims to further professionalize and increase the pay of Bureau of Immigration (BI) workers, and HB No. 7240, which would exempt teachers, soldiers, and other uniformed personnel from the government rightsizing plan.

“Millions of Filipinos and their families stand to benefit from the legislative approval and enactment into law of these bills that the House, under the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez, had approved on third and final reading since the start of the Second Regular Session of the 19th Congress,” said Villafuerte.

The lawmaker had cited Romualdez’s leadership for “steering through the House the swift passage of the government’s priority legislative measures designed to sustain the robust post-pandemic growth, create more jobs and livelihood opportunities, and improve the lives of Filipinos”.

The lower chamber had passed all 17 State of the Nation (SONA)-endorsed bills by September, which is three months ahead of the December 2023 target.

Citing House records, Villafuerte said that over 600 bills have been approved and are now awaiting action by the Senate. This enabled the House to process an average of 28 legislative measures for each of the 121 session days in the 19th Congress.

“Speaker Martin traced the superb performance of the House of Representatives last year to the continued unity and cooperation of all of us in the chamber in serving the highest interest of the Filipino people,” the lawmaker said.

Villafuerte said the NUP remains fully supportive of the Speaker and the legislative agenda of President Marcos.

Last year, the party formally declared its continued support for Romualdez until the end of the 19th Congress in 2025 and for the legislative agenda of President Marcos until the end of his term in 2028.