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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Laws, agencies must be assessed: Bernos couple file Sunset Review Bill

Laws, agencies must be assessed: Bernos couple file Sunset Review Bill

Published Feb 9, 2026 09:21 am

At A Glance

  • Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos and Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos have filed a bill prescribing an automatic sunset review of all laws creating regulatory regimes or government programs, government programs funded through the General Appropriations Act (GAA), and government agencies created by statute.
Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos (left), Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos (Facebook)
Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos (left), Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos (Facebook)


Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos and Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos have filed a bill prescribing an automatic sunset review of all laws creating regulatory regimes or government programs, government programs funded through the General Appropriations Act (GAA), and government agencies created by statute.
This, as solon-couple pushed for the notion that all laws, programs, and agencies of the government should be subject to periodic congressional review to ensure that their existence, effectiveness, and cost are justified.
Their proposal is embodied in House Bill (HB) No. 7467 or the Sunset Review Bill.
“Government operates on limited resources, therefore it is only proper that we constantly review how the funds we pour towards implementing our statutes are being spent. Maraming nasasayang na pondo dahil sa pagpapatupad ng mga batas na hindi na angkop sa panahon o hindi kaya dahil sa mga non-performing na ahensya,” Rep. Ching said.
(A lot of public funds are wasted due to the enforcement of laws that are no longer suited to the times, or because of non-performing agencies.)
She said HB No. 7467 aims to promote accountability, fiscal responsibility, and evidence-based governance “so we can ensure that our laws and agencies do what they are meant to do, and discard them when they are no longer up for the job or have been rendered unfit for the times".
Under the measure, laws and government programs shall be subject to sunset review five years after effectivity or commencement. Meanwhile, government agencies created by statute shall be subject to review ten years after their creation.
Upon reaching the applicable review period, a covered law, program, or agency shall only continue upon affirmative renewal, amendment, or reauthorization by Congress.
A Joint Congressional Sunset Review Committee composed of an equal number of senators and representatives shall be formed to oversee and conduct the sunset reviews.
Among the criteria the committee shall consider in its sunset reviews are the achievement of objectives, cost-effectiveness, fiscal impact, continued necessity, overlap with existing laws or agencies, and impact on the public.
Constitutional bodies, the Judiciary, and laws implementing constitutional rights shall be exempt from automatic sunset review.
Rep. JB, for his part, said that institutionalizing a blanket sunset review would ensure that the government does not become reactionary and forced to act only when big issues arise due to laws’ and agencies’ ineffectiveness.
He pointed out that “with a mandatory review we strengthen transparency, discipline, and evidence-based policymaking"
"Maiiwasan natin ang paggawa ng batas na bara-bara lang dahil mai-expose ito sa review. Dapat bawal ang kulelat na batas at ahensya dahil nasasayang ang kaban ng bayan sa mga ito,” he said.
(We can avoid the passage of haphazard laws because they will be exposed during review. Poorly crafted laws and underperforming agencies should not be allowed, as they only waste the nation’s coffers.)
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