BY RAYMOND AFRICA and WENDELL VIGILIA
SENATE President Juan Miguel Zubiri yesterday said senators are eyeing the approval of 20 priority measures as Congress resumes regular sessions following a month-long summer break.
At the House of Representatives, Speaker Martin Romualdez said they will shift their focus from legislation to oversight function as they have already approved on the third and final reading all of the 20 priority measures.
Romualdez said that after passing President Marcos Jr.’s legislative priorities, the House will zero in on its investigations into the persistent high prices of rice and other essential commodities, the pressing cybersecurity threats confronting government agencies, and the country’s maritime row with China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“Having effectively discharged our legislative duties, the House is positioned to enhance its commitment to oversight functions,” the Speaker said. “Through rigorous oversight, the House will actively engage in scrutinizing government actions, addressing inefficiencies, and safeguarding the integrity of our democratic institutions.”
The House approved the 20 priority measures identified by the President and the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) before going on a Lenten break last March, three months earlier than it expected.
Zubiri said: “We are right on track when it comes to the approval of priority measures of the President both in the LEDAC and in his SONA. We are confident that the Senate can pass 20 of these measures before the 2nd Regular Session ends, and the rest of our commitment before this year ends.”
He said that one measure is already set for signing by the President – the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) Act, a framework that accounts for the country’s natural capital and its economic impact.
On the other hand, he said the bicameral report on three other measures has been ratified and is currently in the process of enrollment. These are the proposed Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the measure establishing the Negros Island Region, and the proposed Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act.
“Four of the 20 measures are nearing enactment into law already. The rest are for bicameral committee approval, for second and final reading approval, or awaiting committee approval. We are confident we can finish deliberations on these bills in its final stages before we adjourn sine die on May 24,” Zubiri said.
Zubiri said that two priority measures — the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act and the Self Reliant Defense Posture Act (SRDP) — are both awaiting bicameral conference committee approval, while the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act has been approved on the third and final reading and transmitted to the House of Representatives for action.
The following priority measures, meanwhile, are waiting for approval on a second reading: the Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming Act, VAT on Digital Services/Transactions Act, amendments to the Government Procurement Reform Act, Blue Economy Act, Waste-to-Energy Act, Mandatory Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) Act, Unified System of Separation, Retirement and Pension of MUPs/New Separation, Retirement and Pension System for the Military and Uniformed Personnel, Enterprise Based Education and Training (EBET) Program Act, and Amendments to the Universal Health Care Act.
He said three of the priority measures are pending committee approval — the E-Government/E-Governance Act, the Department of Water Resources Act, and the “Konektadong Pinoy” Act.
He said the Senate has also received the House-approved Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) bill.
“We will focus all our energies on these 20 measures before we adjourn for the 3rd Regular Session. After that, it is the President’s SONA again and the national budget season. But we are confident we can fulfill all of our legislative commitments to the President and to the people before this year ends,” Zubiri said.
OVERSIGHT FUNCTION
Romualdez said the House will “actively engage in scrutinizing government actions, addressing inefficiencies, and safeguarding the integrity of our democratic institutions.”
He said the House’s oversight functions will include “monitoring and evaluating the implementation of laws and policies, ensuring accountability, transparency, and the protection of the public interest.”
The Speaker last week instructed the House Committee on Agriculture and Food to look into the “widening gap” between farmgate and retail prices of rice and other basic goods.
The Speaker ordered the motu proprio investigation after he and Rep. Erwin Tulfo (PL, ACT-CIS) met last Tuesday with representatives of producers, retailers, and grocery stores who all denied making substantial adjustments on the prices of basic commodities.
Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, president of the National Unity Party (NUP), urged the House leadership to tackle bills granting separate benefits to farmers, fisherfolk, electricity consumers and “junior citizens,” or Filipinos from the time they are babies up to 12 years old.
“Extending succor to these additional sectors is in order, given that we in the Congress have already written laws providing cash aid, price discounts, and other forms of economic privileges and financial relief to such priority sectors as senior citizens, solo parents and PWDs,” he said.
Villafuerte is a lead author of RA 11916, or the “Social Pension for Indigent Seniors Act” of 2022, which doubled the monthly pension of indigent elderly Filipinos to P1,000; as well as RA 11982, which granted a cash reward of P10,000 to seniors when they reach 80, 85, 90 or 95 years old. RA 11982 amended RA 10868, or the “Centenarians Act of 2016,” which granted a cash gift of P100,000 to every Filipino who becomes a centenarian or reaches the age of 100.
Villafuerte is also a lead author of RA No. 11861 which granted financial benefits and other privileges to solo parents.
