Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Senate and House officials went on a high note following the 18th Congress as both chambers claimed passing important measures that would help Filipinos and the economy recover from the pandemic.
Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri noted the Senate achieved an “outstanding performance" by passing an “astounding” 72 bills enacted into laws, many of which are coronavirus response measures.
The House of Representatives itself said the second regular session in the 18th Congress said it passed vital measures that would help the country's economy stand up from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lawmakers will return to the Batasang Pambansa on July 26 for the opening of the third regular session and the final State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte.
This developed as Speaker Lord Allan Velasco expressed optimism that the reforms and measures enacted by the 18th Congress have “significantly contributed to securing our people’s health and welfare and to hastening our nation’s economic recovery.”
These laws to ease the burden of Filipino who grappled with the difficulties and the challenges of life with the emergence of a novel virus were passed from July 27, 2020 to June 3, 2021.
For his part, Minority Leader Joseph Stephen Paduano has expressed gratitude to Majority Leader Martin Romualdez for allowing them to effectively perform their mandate as fiscalizers of the House of Representatives.
Paduano of Abang Lingkod thanked Romualdez, representative of Leyte's first district and chairman of the House committee on rules, for giving importance and priority to their advocacies during the second regular session of the 18th Congress.
“I would like to extend my gratitude to the Majority Floor Leader Martin Romualdez for being true to his words that as a tradition in the House, the minority is always the priority. Thank you for that sir,” Paduano said during late Wednesday night's session shortly before the House of Representatives adjourned sine die.
Velasco also credited the hard-working Romualdez for shepherding the passage of pro-people priority legislations under the Duterte administration that cater to the needs of the welfare of the people especially in these challenging and difficult times.
At the Senate, Zubiri said 21 more bills were enrolled for the President’s signature; three more bills were lined up for bicameral conference committee; and 34 bills were approved on third reading.
"There is obviously more to be done, and of course, we will continue to hold hearings on urgent and important measures even as the plenary sessions adjourn," said the Senate Leader.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the Senate was committed to a legislative policy of shepherding government programs and resources to fight COVID-19.
Aside from the Bayanihan laws, Sotto cited important legislations passed by the Senate such as Republic Act 11525 or the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act which expedites the vaccine procurement and administration process.
Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara cited some of the accomplishments of the Senate such as the passage of the Bayanihan 1 and 2, the Vaccine Act, and the passing of the 2021 national budget on time.
He also mentioned the Senate investigations into the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. irregularities and agricultural importation anomalies, among others.