IN just a little over 30 session days, the Senate has passed 12 priority measures of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“We acted with urgency on the priority measures of the President which were also part of the common legislative agenda of both chambers of Congress. Again, this is more about the quality of laws rather than quantity. These are high impact laws that Malacañang and Congress agreed upon to prioritize,” Senate President Francis Escudero said.
These key measures will improve the investment climate of the country, strengthen its territorial and maritime claims, and improve the global competitiveness of Filipinos, Escudero said.
“During this period, we even had to deal with work stoppages due to weather disturbances, as well as national holidays. Nevertheless, we made sure that we were able to dispose of the matters before us, with the support of all our members,” said Escudero who was elected as Senate President last May 20.
The Senate leader said nine of the 12 bills are up for signing by the President. Three are awaiting action at the bicameral conference committee level, and one is up for approval by the House of Representatives.
All taken, a total of 106 bills, including those that are local in scope, were approved on third reading, 26 of which have been enacted into law since May 20.
After assuming the top leadership of the Upper Chamber, Escudero said the Senate applied the three-way test in prioritizing bills: “Will it make the lives of the people easier? Will it help us move faster? Will it make our people’s burdens lighter?”
He said this test is the basis for deciding what to legislate and if amendments are to be entertained.
The priority bills up for signing by the President are SB No. 1604 or the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program (ARAL) Act. SB No 2221 or the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarer, SB No. 2432 or Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Economic Sabotage Act, SB No. 2455 or the Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act,
SB No. 2492 or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, SB No. 2528 or VAT on Digital Transactions Act, SB No. 2762 or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act, SB No. 2779 or Amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law provides the National Food Authority Act, and SB No. 2587 or the Enterprise-Based Education and Training Framework Act.
Even as several committees of the Senate are in the thick of investigating issues of national interest, Escudero gave assurance that the chamber will not be distracted from its duty “to pass laws for the benefit of our people.”
“In the remaining days before the Senate starts to focus exclusively on the proposed 2025 national budget, we are looking at passing about three to four more of the priority measures of the President. There is no time to waste, and we will strive to accomplish even more under my watch,” Escudero said.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Escudero touts key measures the Senate passed under his leadership.”
