House Speaker Martin Romualdez (left), Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero (Facebook)

House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Senate President Francis "Chiz" will formally meet Thursday, June 13 in what is expected to be a high-stakes gathering that will chart the course of the final year of the 19th Congress. 

Expected to be discussed by the two leaders of the Bicameral Congress are the legislative priorities of the Marcos administration, particularly for the third regular session that will begin on July 22. 

Romualdez shared the scheduled meeting in a chance interview during the 126th Philippine Independence Day celebration at Barasoain Church in Bulacan on Wednesday, June 12. 

"Bukas pa meeting natin at ah syempre yung priority legislative agenda. Sa totoo lang po sa House of Representstives tapos na at ipanasa natin lahat ng priority measures ng ating mahal na Presidente, lalo yung SONA (State of the Nation Address) measures at LEDAC (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council)," he said. 

(Our meeting is tomorrow, and it's about the priority legislative agenda. Actually in the House of Representatives we've already finished and passed all the priority measures of our beloved President, especially the SONA measures and LEDAC.) 

Referring to the Senate, Romualdez added: "Pero syempre bago yung leadership ngayon at baka may bagong prioritties na irerekomenda rin so papakinggan natin." 

(But it has a new leadership now and there may be new priorities, so we will listen to the recommendations.) 

HAVE YOU READ THIS? 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/4/kanin-finally-meets-keso-but-cha-cha-wasn-t-discussed


The meeting will also ensure open communication between the 300-plus strong House of Representatives and the 24-member Senate. 

Thursday will be Escudero's first formal meeting with Romualdez since he replaced Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri as Senate President last May 20. However, the location of the scheduled meeting wasn't disclosed. 

Romualdez and Escudero recently met in Malacañang last June 3 on the sidelines of the singing of the "Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act". However, it was only a brief encounter. 

The legislature is currently on recess following the sine die adjournment of the second regular session of the 19th Congress last May 22. 

It will resume for the third and final regular session on July 22, during which President Marcos will deliver his third SONA.