Senator Christopher Go has reiterated his commitment to work for the speedy passage of priority measures, especially those certified urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte, once the legislative sessions resume later this month.
On Dec. 28, Senate President Vicente Sotto III revealed 20 priority measures based on a common legislative agenda identified by both Houses of Congress. Eight of the measures were filed by Go, including a proposal to establish a Department of Overseas Filipinos.
Go filed Senate Bill 1949 on Dec. 14, 2020, which the President later certified as urgent. It would improve the delivery of government services and programs to Filipinos overseas by bringing together all government functions related to overseas employment and migration under one agency.
The bill would also enhance the One Country-Team approach by directing all officers, representatives and personnel of the Philippine government posted abroad, regardless of their mother agencies, to act as a one country team under the leadership of the ambassador or consul general.
Additionally, the Senate will be prioritizing the deliberations on the re-imposition of the death penalty. Go filed SBN 207 in 2019, which would reinstate the capital punishment for heinous crimes.
Also included in the priority list is SBN 1738 or the E-Governance Act. This proposed measure by Go would improve the delivery of public services by reducing the red tape that plagues the national and local governments and, in turn, hinders the ability of small businesses to grow and create jobs.
To complement the E-Governance Act, Go co-authored SBN 1591, otherwise known as the Internet Transactions Act, in 2020 to develop the e-commerce sector’s potential for employment and economic growth by helping small businesses engaging in digital trade.
Also one of the measures to be prioritized is the Military and Uniformed Personnel Services Separation, Retirement and Pension Act, a version of which Go filed in 2020. SBN 1419 would address the concerns of the pension and retirement pay for men and women in uniform.
SBN 1451 was introduced in the same year and seeks to establish a Medical Reserve Corps composed of individuals who have degrees in health-related fields but have yet to obtain professional licenses to help in the country’s response during times of emergencies.
Meanwhile, Go sought to provide accessible housing services for the poor by filing SBN 203, otherwise known as the National Housing Development, Production and Financing Act, in 2019 which would create a strong affordable housing finance system and mobilize funds to increase low-cost housing production.
Furthermore, Go introduced SBN 1411, or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act, to amend Republic Act 8972, otherwise known as the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000. The bill would ease the burden of some 14 million solo parents by providing them with additional benefits and privileges, such as special discounts, tax amnesty or reduction in real estate or inheritance taxes, and basic personal exemption from individual income tax in the amount of PHP 50,000 in addition to the existing exemption that the solo parent may claim for their children.
