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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Passage of priority bills still possible despite 'issues' in Senate — Palace

Passage of priority bills still possible despite 'issues' in Senate — Palace

Published May 25, 2026 09:03 pm
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Malacañang believes the passage of priority bills remains possible by June, at least on the executive department's side.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said there is no issue on the Palace's side. But it cannot speak for the Senate, which, according to her, is having issues at present.
On May 11, the Senate underwent a leadership change, ousting Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and installing Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.
Two days after the change in Senate leadership, the Palace stated that the reorganization of the Senate does not mean the previously identified 21 priority bills will be affected.
Two weeks later, Malacañang changed its tone, citing the contrast between the executive and Senate.
"[K]ung maaayos pa ba o magiging ayon sa priority bills ng Pangulo – sa Pangulo po ay wala po tayong issue. Wala po tayong issue dahil kung anong nais ng Pangulo para sa taumbayan iyan po ang nais niyang mangyari (As for whether things can still be fixed or aligned with the President’s priority bills — as far as the President is concerned, we have no issue with that. We have no issue because whatever the President wants for the people is what he wants to happen)," Castro said on Monday, May 25.
"Pero hindi po natin masasagot kung hanggang saan ang kakayahan ng Senado sa ngayon (But we cannot answer to what extent the Senate is capable of doing so at this point)," Castro added.
The Palace mouthpiece said it is not Marcos who is having problems or issues in terms of meeting the target for the passage of priority bills.
Whoever the Senate President is, the President will not hesitate to work with them.
"Sila naman po iyong mayroong issue sa ngayon. Sa Pangulo po, kung sinuman po ang leader diyan, basta po ang gagawing trabaho ay para sa bayan at sa taumbayan, hindi po mag-aatubili ang Pangulo na makipag-ugnayan sa kanila (They are the ones who currently have issues among themselves). As for the President, whoever the leader there may be, as long as the work being done is for the country and the people, the President will not hesitate to coordinate with them)," Castro said.
"So, hindi po sa Pangulo ang may problema or may issue (So, the problem or issue does not lie with the President)," Castro pointed out.
The Palace official also revealed that they have yet to receive any information for the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting.
During the last LEDAC meeting in February 2026, Marcos approved 21 priority measures targeted for passage in June.
These priority proposals include the Travel Tax Abolition; the Expanded Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act of 2026; Anti-Fake News and Digital Disinformation; and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Elections.
The other priority legislative measures include the Anti-Political Dynasty Law; the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act; the Independent People’s Commission Act; and the Party-List System Reform Act.

Related Tags

President Marcos Malacañang Senate Priority Bills LEDAC
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