Senate seeks chamber’s integrity as it tackles Cha-cha
Congress is set to resume its sessions today, with the House of Representatives close to passing all of the priority bills identified by President Marcos, his Cabinet, and lawmakers through the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
“We are almost done with the priority bills agreed upon by Congress and the executive branch. We have approved on final reading all butfour of the 57 measures in the LEDAC list,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said.
Another measure in the list, aimed at the development of a national defense industry, is expected to be passed on third and final reading, leaving only three awaiting final approval, he added.
“We have accomplished our mission as lawmakers by acting promptly on the legislative agenda of President Marcos, which is focused on sustaining economic growth, helping the poor and vulnerable sectors, creating jobs and income opportunities, and in general, making life better for every Filipino,” he said.
The three LEDAC measures awaiting final approval are the amendments tothe Electric Power Industry Reform Act that is still with the technical working group, the budget modernization bill, and the National Defense Act under committee consideration.
Another proposed law, which is a House priority, is scheduled to be finally passed — HB No. 9571 titled An Act prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons, providing for their destruction and imposing penalties for violations thereof.”
At least 11 other bills, which Congress has considered as among its priorities, are in various stages of plenary and committee deliberation.
“We will await Senate action on proposed laws that we have approved onthird and final reading, and we will be ready to sit with senators inbicameral conferences to come up with the final versions,” Romualdez said.
He said the P5.768-trillion 2024 national budget was among the priority measures the President has signed into law.
The national budget is the most important piece of legislation Congress passes and the President signs each year, he added.
“It is our tool and guidepost for the nation’s progress and development. It is the source of funds for roads, bridges, expressways, school buildings, airports, seaports, hospitals and other medical facilities, and other infrastructure,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said the Charter change proposal to be tackled when Congress resumes today is aimed at preserving the Senate as an institution.
He noted that the authors of the Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No.6, which seeks to amend only three specific provisions of the 1987 Constitution, feel that the Senate is under threat.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said he filed RBH 6 to avoid a constitutional crisis and to preserve bicameralism.
The Senate president said he would not allow anybody to tinker with the Charter’s political provisions and said he would risk his leadership on that.
But Pimentel said there are other issues other than Cha-cha that should concern Congress as sessions reopen.
When Congress adjourned in December, he said, Cha-cha was not even on the radar.
“What we should talk about are the military and uniformed personnel (MUP) pension fund and the maritime zones law. [Those] should be the priorities,” he said.
