‘Priority measures’ top agenda in last leg of 18th Congress – Sotto

THE Upper Chamber of Congress shall continue with its legislative work for the Third Regular Session of the 18^TH Congress focused on 10 pending ‘priority bills’ right after Pres. Duterte delivered his sixth and final ‘State of the Nation Address’ (SONA) this Monday, July 26, 2021 and before the “election fever” takes over the country and distract lawmakers from the more important tasks at hand.

In a statement released by his office, Senate President Vicente Sotto III listed these priority measures to include:

amendments to the Foreign Investment Acts (FIA); amendments to the Public Service Act (PSA); Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE); Department of Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act;

Package 4 of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) or the Passive Income Tax and Financial Intermediary Tax Act (PIFITA);

Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines (VIP); Rural Agricultural and Fisheries Development Financing System Act (Agri-Agra); and, Package 3 of the CTRP or the Valuation Reform Bill.

For his part, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said the Senate shall also work for the passage of the following measures:  Modernization of the Bureau of Fire Protection; Increasing the Statutory Rape Age Act; Military and Uniformed Personnel Insurance Fund Act; Philippine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Act;

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Extension Law; and, possibly the Bayanihan 3.

Sotto, in a separate interview last July 22, 2021, also expressed confidence the Senate would be able to pass the 2022 proposed budget—the final amount is yet to be submitted by Malacañang— before Congress’ holiday break in December.

Provided, he added, that the Lower House makes good of its pronouncement of being able to submit the proposed budget to the Senate by October, the same month for the filing of the certificate of candidacy.

Due to the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, visitors and guests will not be allowed inside the Senate premises due to stringent health protocols and regulations.

Family members of senators, former senators, government officials and media personalities will also not be allowed inside the gallery hall and only selected Senate employees will be allowed inside to assist during the session.

After the morning session, Sotto will lead some senators to the House of Representatives for a joint session of Congress to hear President Rodrigo Duterte’s last SONA.
‘Let ordinary Filipinos be the judge’

Meanwhile, Sen. Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go, seconded Sotto, saying Pres. Duterte is expected to remind Congress on the importance of passing his pending urgent legislative priority measures.

“Babanggitin niya po ‘yung mga priority measures… Of course, ‘yung accomplishments ng ating Pangulo for the last five years, ‘yung mga ipinangako niya noon na naisakatuparan na po,” said Go during the turnover of the national government’s additional financial support to the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City on Sunday, July 18, 2021.

Go added it would not be the critics who would “judge” the accomplishments of the Duterte administration but the ordinary Filipinos.

“Let the people be the judge. Sila na po ang humusga kung natupad ba. ‘Yung unang SONA niya nabanggit niya po itong kampanya laban sa korapsyon sa gobyerno, kampanya laban sa kriminalidad, kampanya laban sa iligal na droga,” said Go.

Go also discussed some of the Duterte Administration’s milestones and successes that have strengthened the country’s efforts to provide a comfortable life for all Filipinos, particularly the government’s aggressive stance against criminality and illegal drugs.

“Maglakad po kayo ngayon sa gabi kung nakakalakad na po kayo na safe po ang inyong mga anak at mayroon kayong peace of mind, eh, kayo na po ang humusga,” he said.

Go also said that although the proposed 2022 budget has not been finalized, the President is expected to focus his attention on overcoming the pandemic.

“Hindi pa po tapos ang pandemya at inaasahan ko po uunahin ng ating Pangulo sa ngayon kung paano malampasan ang krisis, lalung lalo na po sa preparasyon ng budget,” said Go.

“Babalansehin po ni Pangulong Duterte ang kanyang prayoridad in the next 11 months and I’m sure babanggitin niya po ‘yung mga nagawa niya, mga kabutihang nagawa para sa ating bayan, at ‘yung gagawin pa niya… Babanggitin rin po niya ‘yung unfinished business niya sa kanyang administrasyon,” he added.

Pres. Duterte’s “unfinished business” in terms of fighting illegal drugs and corruption during his six-year term as president, according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, may influence his decision to run for vice president in the 2022 polls.