Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said he will ask his colleagues if they can hold plenary sessions four times a week once Congress opens for its third regular session.
In a press conference on Friday, July 19, Escudero said that they only have 70 days before the end of the third regular session in 2025.
In their current setup, senators convene for their plenary session from Mondays to Wednesdays.
"Isa ‘yan sa ipapanukala ko sa mga miyembro pagbukas namin (This is one of the things that I will ask my colleagues once the session resumes)," he said.
"Umaasa ako at hihilingin ko sa aking mga kasamahan na ito’y magawa namin para nga mula 70 maging 93 na araw yung aming sesyon sa pagtatrabaho (I am hoping and I will ask my colleagues to push through with this so that from 70 days, we would have 93 days in session to do our work)," he added.
He said this amid questions that the time of some senators will be divided given that some of them are re-electionists and might focus on the May 2025 elections.
"So sisikapin namin na mapunuan ‘yon ng, pagtalakay, pagdebate, pag-aayos at pagpasa, in that order, ng mga makabuluhang panukalang batas na kinakailangan ng ating bansa national man o local (So we will do everything to use those days in discussing, debating, organizing, and passing important legislation that our country needs whether on a national or local level)," he added.
Escudero mentioned that they will use the additional days to discuss local bills and national bills that are not too controversial.
"Para lamang umusad ito at hindi makain yung oras sa regular na sesyon namin ng Lunes hanggang Miyerkules (So that we can move forward and that it doesn't consume much of the time of our regular session from Monday to Wednesday)," he said.