Senate President Francis Escudero on Monday said pending bills on Charter change (Cha-cha) will be placed in the back burner, while measures to bring back divorce and death penalty are not among the priorities of the Upper Chamber.
Pending Charter change bills involved amendments to three restrictive provisions on full foreign ownership of the Constitution: education, advertising, and public utilities.
“In its stead, bills which can effect the same result— but without the needless political noise and bickering — will be prioritized. This will allow us to focus our energy on measures which the people truly need,” Escudero said in his speech during the opening of the third regular session of the 19th Congress.
“We will tackle items in the common legislative agenda forged with the Executive, and those nurtured by either the House or the Senate since legislation is not a one-way process,” he added.
The Senate President also vowed to prioritize legislation that would alleviate the struggles of overworked and underpaid Filipinos.
“Their dreams and struggles, more than any policy paper, should define our legislative agenda and inspire us to work hard,” he said.
“I have noticed that we have passed a raft of laws that ease the burden on big business – even the ease of paying taxes, the ease of unloading bad loans…Why is there no ease of commuting and connecting? Ease of finishing school and finding work? Ease of healthcare for the sick? Ease of acquiring justice? Ease of growing food and feeding our families?”
Escudero also highlighted the Senate’s role in the annual budget process, stressing the importance of judicious spending given the sacrifices made by taxpayers.
