Senate to focus on bills addressing global recession

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate will focus on bills that will help Filipinos be more resilient in the face of the global recession as it opens the third regular session of the 14th Congress on Monday.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile urged his colleagues to continue making laws “with a sense of urgency to address our people’s most serious problems and concerns as well as important national issues.”

The top priority measure for the Senate is the General Appropriations Bill of 2010.

Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said that once the regular session starts, the chamber will also push for the passage of the Social Security Condonation Law of 2008 (SBN 2454); Girl Scouts of the Philippines Charter of 2009 (SBN 3298); Apo Reef Natural Park (ARNP) Act of 2008 (SBN 2393); Log Ban in the Third District of Negros Occidental (HBN 3680); Log Ban in the Province of Southern Leyte (HBN 3681); Electricity Rate Reduction Act of 2009 (SBN 3282); Food Donation Act of 2007 (SBN 150); Eidul Adha (SBN 3283); Adlaw ni Lapu-Lapu (SBN 3284); Arnis as the National Sport of the Philippines (SBN 3288); and Anti-Image Voyeurism Act of 2008 (SBN 2357).

The Senate, after undertaking the “vanishing load” problem of cellular telephone users, will also conduct an inquiry into the plight of house helpers who were or are being maltreated and even tortured by their employers.

“The Senate surely has much more to do and achieve in the crafting of laws that will spur the growth of enterprises, create more jobs and provide our people not only with a stable income, but more importantly, to live in a society that upholds their human, civil and political rights, their dignity, and their pride as Filipinos,” Enrile said.

Records of the Senate showed that the senators have approved 83 bills on second and third reading; 31 of the bills have been signed into law.

The Senate passed 285 local bills, ratified nine treaties and adopted 176 resolutions including the resolution adjusting the salary grade of government employees.

“This is a record of performance I am proud of, and I could not have done it on my own. The credit belongs to my colleagues in the Senate, who remained true to their word that if I would take on the challenge of leading them, they would do their part in making our common dream of a working Senate a reality,” Enrile said in a speech before the Manila Overseas Press Club’s Senate Night last Wednesday.

“Credit must also be given to the senators in the minority, who have contributed their wisdom, insightful participation, and dutiful presence in our deliberations, oftentimes late into the night to finish our legislative work,” Enrile added.

Enrile also recognized and acknowledged the contribution of the organic staff and personnel of the Senate and of the senators.

“Their industry and dedication to their assigned tasks made our work in the Senate more efficient and productive.”

The Senate adjourned last June 3, marking the end of the second regular session, which started July 28 of last year.

Enrile said the following bills were approved by the Senate on third and final reading and awaiting the House of Representatives’ action: Competition Act of 2009 (Anti-trust Law); Child Legitimization Born to Parents Below Marrying Age; Electric Power Industry Reform Act; International Humanitarian Law; Anti-torture Act; Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Charter of 2009; Office of the Government Corporate Counsel Reorganization; Clear Sidewalks Act of 2009; LGU’s Choice of Depository Bank; Department of the Interior and Local Government Act; Posting of Summary of Income and Expenditures (LGUs); Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 2009; General Santos City Charter; and Additional Branches of the Regional Trial Court in the Province of Bataan.

NP appeals to senators

Members of the Nacionalista Party (NP) appealed to the senators to focus more on legislation and monitor the actions of President Arroyo, instead of investigating Sen. Manuel Villar regarding the alleged budget insertion for the controversial C-5 Road project.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, NP secretary-general, said in a press conference yesterday that they were already bracing for the resumption of the investigation into the charges of conflict of interest and plunder against Villar.

Cayetano said the senators must realize that President Arroyo and her allies should be monitored because many of them might be saving up for their “retirement funds” at the expense of the Filipino taxpayers.

He said there might be midnight deals and other anomalies that might be perpetrated so the administration officials could make money before leaving their positions.

“The presidential race is heating up and I am worried that they would use up our time mudslinging rather than guarding Malacañang. So my request is not to stop (Villar’s probe) but give equal attention to the executive department,” Cayetano said.

Enrile said the Senate, acting as a committee of the whole, would resume its investigation of the case of Villar next week when session resumes.

But Enrile and Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said the Senate would prioritize bills that would make Filipinos resilient to the effects of global recession.

Enrile urged his colleagues to continue making laws “with a sense of urgency to address our people’s most serious problems and concerns as well as important national issues.”

NP spokesman Gilbert Remulla said it would be up to the senators, particularly those running in the May 2010 elections, on how they would tackle the Villar case vis-à-vis the need to legislate and investigate Malacañang’s anomalies as well.

Remulla said despite the allegations against Villar, the NP presidential bet is getting popular based on recent surveys.   –-Christina Mendez with Aurea Calica, Philippine Star