By Brian Jules Campued
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero reminded the 23-strong upper chamber to prioritize passing measures that will unburden the nation and uplift the lives of every Filipino and not cause social and political divide.
In his speech at the opening of the third and final regular session of the 19th Congress, Escudero echoed the statement of the former and first Senate President Manuel Quezon in 1916, emphasizing the roles of the country’s senators which must also put first the welfare of the people, not favoring a party or self-interest.
Among the four distinct roles of the Senate, according to Quezon, is also to focus on the quality of the bills they write, propose, and vote for or against, rather than the quantity. He stressed that the chamber is “not a factory that mass produces laws,” which do not improve peoples’ lives.
In line with this, the Senate President said that they will shun divisive bills, including proposals on Charter Change, as he laid down the legislative agenda of the Senate.
“We will set aside items which merely dissipate our energy and divide the public. For this same reason, pending bills on Charter Change will be placed in the backburner and will follow the ordinary and regular process of legislation, if at all,” Escudero said.
On the other hand, he said “bills which can affect the same resolve but without the needless political noise and bickering will be prioritized” to allow the lawmakers to focus their energy on measures which the people truly need.
Escudero also maintained the primary role of senators is to be the “chief common sense officers” of the government, adding that it is needed to improve the lives of the Filipino people.
“Let this standard be used in measuring every government proposal that comes our way. Will it make life easier for the Filipinos?” he said.
In enumerating the work of senators, Escudero stressed the importance of scrutinizing every bill they discuss in their sessions before it reaches the table of the President, particularly the proposed national budget for 2025.
“We do this because legislative haste often leads to time and resources wasted. Bills that are not forged in the fire of debate often come out half-baked and eventually require remedial sequels. Sisiguraduhin po natin na pulido ang mga batas na makakarating sa lamesa ng Pangulo,” he said.
Escudero, likewise, noted that the Senate has already passed “a raft of laws” that only ease the burden on big business but not much to ease the burden of the public, such as problems on transportation, connection, education, employment, providing healthcare, acquiring justice, and putting affordable food on the table of ordinary citizens.
In matters of foreign relations, he said the Senate will also prioritize laws that will strengthen Philippine sovereignty, in the context of the ongoing issues in the West Philippine Sea. This includes the passing of the Maritime Zone and Sea Lanes Act as well as bolstering the military “not to ignite any conflict, but in order to secure our peace.”
“Make no mistake about it, this Senate is unanimous and unbending in defending our country’s independence and sovereignty. Tayo’y makikipagkaibigan, pero hindi tayo pasisiil. Tayo’y makikipag-usap, pero hindi tayo magpapaapi,” Escudero continued.
In concluding his speech, the Senate President rallied his co-legislators to consider three things in undertaking their tasks: to make the lives of the people easier, to help the country reach prosperity faster, and to make the people’s burdens lighter.
“Uulitin ko, sa bawat tanong, bawat panukalang batas, bawat debate, at bawat salitang sasambitin natin sa kapulungang ito, sagutin natin ang tatlong simpleng katanungan: mapapabilis at mapapadali ba nito ang ating gawain at gawain ng ating kababayan? Mapapagaan ba nito ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino?” he asked.
“Let us do the heavy work and make hard decisions to unburden the nation and uplift every Filipino. This, to me, is our unchanging mandate. In this manner, we can and shall be the Senate that Quezon has envisioned,” he added. – av