Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero has confirmed his first formal meeting with House Speaker Martin Romualdez has already happened and it was “both productive and encouraging.”
“This initial engagement was an essential step in re-establishing a strong and collaborative relationship with the House leadership, particularly after a period of strained relations between the Senate and the House of Representatives,” Escudero said in a statement.
“Our discussions today focused on bridging the gaps that have previously existed and establishing a framework for more open, transparent, and continuous communication moving forward. Speaker Romualdez and I are united in our commitment to ensuring that our legislative efforts are synchronized and centered on the best interests of our nation,” the Senate leader added.
Escudero issued his statement a day after the House leader disclised that the Senate is open to passing the House-approved bill that seeks to amend the five-year-old Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).
According to Romualdez, the proposed amendments to Republic Act (RA) No.11203 was a “key focus of the meeting” and was “identified as a top priority.”
The Senate chief, meanwhile, was mum about the developments on the RTL but said they have both agreed “to keep the lines of communication open to prevent misunderstandings and to promote a collaborative legislative environment.”
“This is crucial for the smooth passage of laws that will benefit our country and our people. In particular, we are committed to ensuring the passage of the remaining priority bills identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), which are vital for our country’s progress and development,” Escudero said.
“During our meeting, we stressed the importance of upholding checks and balances to prevent any single branch from becoming too powerful. This ensures accountability, transparency, and effective governance, allowing for healthy debate and the creation of legislation that truly serves the people’s interests,” he added.
Escudero said he is now looking forward to meeting with the House Speaker again as boht houses of Congress prepare for the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“It is during this important event that the President will lay down his priority legislative measures, and it is imperative that both the Senate and the House are aligned and ready to support these initiatives,” he said.
Escudero further said the productive meeting marks the beginning of a renewed and strengthened partnership between the two chambers.
“Together, we are committed to working towards a more united and effective legislative body that can better serve the needs of our nation,” he added.
Relations between the House and Senate leadership were strained after then Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri criticized the House for leading a People’s Initiative signature campaign to change the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
This has led the Senate, led by Zubiri to file Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, tackling the economic provisions of the present Charter, while the House mimicked the Senate’s version with Resolution of Both Houses No. 7.