THE Senate will resume regular sessions today, as it targets to pass 12 priority measures during the next six two weeks before Congress adjourns sine die on June 13.
The Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) agreed to fasttrack the approval of the legislations during its meeting last week.
The bills are the proposed amendments to the Foreign Investors’ Long-Term Lease Act, the E-Governance Act, Open Access in Data Transmission (Konektadong Pinoy Act), Rationalization of the Fiscal Mining Regime, amendments to the Universal Health Care Act, creation of the Virology Institute of the Philippines, Government Optimization Act, amendments to the Right-of-Way Act, Setting the Term of Office of Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan, Judicial Fiscal Autonomy, Denatured Alcohol Tax, and the Anti-POGO Act.
“With only six sessions days before the sine die adjournment, it is imperative for the Senate and the House of Representatives to prioritize the passage of these measures, consistent also with the administration’s thrust to align our government with the people’s needs and expectations,” Escudero said.
Speaker Martin Romualdez vowed to act on the few remaining important pieces of legislation with only two weeks left before the sine die adjournment.
“Panahon na para tapusin ang mga naiwan nating trabaho (It’s time we finish our remaining work). Now is the final stretch of the 19th Congress, and we intend to make every day count,” he said.
He said among the measures up for final reading at the lower chamber are House Bill (HB) No. 10987, the Anti-Offshore Gaming Operations Act, which seeks to outlaw POGOs and prohibit offshore gambling operations in the country, and HB 11359 or the proposed Philippine Civil Registry Act, which updates the antiquated system of recording civil status information.
Also up for final approval are HB 11430, the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act; HB 11395, the AICS Act institutionalizing emergency assistance for individuals in crisis; and House Bill 11400, the proposed expansion of senior citizen benefits and privileges.
Under the 19th Congress, 13,868 measures were filed at the House of Representatives between July 25, 2022 and May 28, 2025. Of this number, 11,506 were bills, and 2,361 were various forms of resolutions.
The chamber also submitted 1,451 committee reports and ultimately approved 1,493 measures on final reading, including 280 Republic Acts – 93 national and 187 local laws.
Last week, Romualdez reported to the LEDAC that 27 out of 28 measures under its Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) have been approved by the House of Representatives in the 19th Congress.
Romualdez said only the measure proposing amendments to the Agrarian Reform law remains pending in the lower chamber.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed into law 12 out of the 28 LEDAC measures. These are the New Government Procurement Reform Act, Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act, Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, Value-Added Tax (VAT) on Digital Transactions, Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program Act, Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act, Philippine Maritime Zones Act, Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, CREATE More, Enterprise-Based Education and Training Framework Act, and amendments to the Agricultural Tariffication Act.
The bill on the proposed amendments to EPIRA lapsed into law last April 18, while the proposed Capital Markets Promotion Act was sent to the Office of the President last April 29.
The following bills are still under bicameral conference committee deliberation: Blue Economy Act, amendments to the Universal Health Care Act, Open Access in Data Transmission Act, E-Governance Act, Rationalization of Mining Fiscal Regime, and Foreign Investors’ Long Term Lease amendments.
Escudero said that aside from passing the proposed measures, Congress also needs to act on over 200 presidential appointments, including the three Cabinet secretaries, four officials of constitutional commissions, 39 foreign service officers, and 277 officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The Senate will also set to formally receive the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte on June 11. – With Wendell Vigilia
