Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri branded 2023 a “banner year” for the Senate as he lauded his colleagues for their legislative accomplishments.
He acknowledged senators for the enactment into law of 32 measures of national and local significance.
“The products of the Senate’s legislative mill this 2023 are a testament to our commitment to improve the life of every Filipino by crafting new laws that will boost the economy, generate jobs, and expand social protection,” Zubiri said.
A total of 32 bills have been signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for this year, which included the P5.768-trillion General Appropriations Bill and 15 local measures.
“On behalf of the Senate, we express our gratitude to President Bongbong Marcos for signing these measures into law, including the national budget that has significantly increased the funds for defense spending, while also giving significant increases in the budget of the Philippine Coast Guard,” Zubiri said.
“This highlights our shared vision of promoting the welfare of the people and the nation,” he added.
Zubiri stressed that the Senate proud produced what he thinks “is the best budget we have seen in years, with a good balance of social services, infrastructure development, and of course defense and security—including a much-deserved increase in the budget of our Coast Guard, who are at the frontlines of our continued efforts to protect our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.”
“We are also proud to reflect the people’s concerns about confidential funds, by making the 2024 budget more transparent and our government agencies and offices more accountable in their spending.”
He said this one of the most responsive budgets and progressive budgets of our country “in a while so I’m very proud of it.”
Zubiri said among the key measures that were signed into law this year is RA No. 11959, which will pave the way for the construction of specialty health facilities in hospitals being managed by the Department of Health in all regions.
The other important measures passed this year are The Public Private Partnership Act and The Internet Transactions Act. The PPP Act will mobilize private resources to finance infrastructure projects related to transportation, healthcare, internet, supply chain and logistics among others. The ITA will provide much-needed protection to consumers in online transactions.
Other key measures are Republic Act No. 11939, or An Act Further Strengthening Professionalism and Promoting the Continuity of Policies and Modernization Initiatives in the Armed Forces of the Philippines; RA No. 11953, or An Act Emancipating Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries from Financial Burden by Condoning All Principal Loans, Unpaid Amortizations and Interests and Exempting Payment of Tax on Agricultural Lands Awarded under CARP; R.A. 11960 or the One Town One Product Philippines Program; R.A 11962 or the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, which establishes the National Employment Master Plan; and R.A. No. 11961 or the Strengthening the Conservation And Protection of Philippine Cultural Heritage Through Cultural Mapping.
“We enacted numerous other landmark measures such as the Conservation and Protection of Philippine Cultural Heritage Through Cultural Mapping, R.A. No. 11964 or An Act Institutionalizing The Automatic Income Classification of LGUs, and R.A. 11954 or the Maharlika Investment Fund,” he added.
According to Zubiri, a total of 29 measures, including the measure that prohibits the “No Permit, No Exam” policy and the proposed expansion of the coverage of the Centenarians Act of 2016, are awaiting the President’s signature.
Other bills of national significance that are awaiting enactment into law are:
1. S. No. 2001 or Providing for A New Passport Law, Repealing for The Purpose Republic Act No. 8239, Otherwise Known as The Philippine Passport Act Of 1996;
2. S. No. 2221 or Providing for the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers;
3. S. No. 2224 or Ease of Paying Taxes Act;
4. S. No. 2243or Strengthening and Revitalizing the Salt Industry in the Philippines; and
5. S. No. 2426 or Mandating the Formulation, Funding, Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation of a Comprehensive and Multi-Year “Tatak Pinoy” (Proudly Filipino) Strategy, Establishing A Tatak Pinoy Council.
A total of 22 local bills are also awaiting the signature of the President.
Concurrence in the rstification of internationsl agreemenys, resilutuons adopte
Under Zubiri’s leadership, the senators concurred in the ratification of important treaties.
It passed Resolution No. 42, “Concurring in the Ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement”, which is envisioned to widen and enhance trade and investment opportunities for the Philippines, especially with RCEP member-states.
The Senate also concurred in the ratification of the International Labour Organization Convention No. 190 or the “Convention Concerning the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work,” which will benefit and protect not only workers here in the country, but also OFWs against abuse and gender-based violence.
Senators also concurred in the ratification of the Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of His Majesty The Sultan And Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion With Respect to Taxes on Income.
Lastly, the Senate also voted to concur in the Ratification of the Agreement on Social Security Between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the Republic of Korea.
A total of 59 other simple resolutions were adopted under Zubiri’s leadership in 2023.