By Brian Campued
The leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives both expressed their readiness to conduct a special session after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Proclamation No. 1318 on Monday, calling on Congress to convene and act on priority legislation.
In separate statements, acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian and House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III welcomed the President’s call and agreed to convene for a special session on June 17.
“Kinikilala ng Senado ang tungkulin nito sa [taumbayan], at tutuparin natin ito nang buong husay sa espesyal na sesyong ipinatawag ng ating Pangulo,” Sen. Gatchalian said in a Facebook post.
According to Gatchalian, the Senate needs to act on several priority bills, pending government appointees, as well as measures aimed at strengthening social protection, education, and healthcare, and ensuring urgent government response to the needs of Filipinos amid ongoing energy challenges and the recovery efforts following the recent magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao.
“Lahat ng ito ay direktang makaaapekto sa buhay ng mga Pilipino, kaya titiyakin nating kikilos ang Senado nang mabilis at maayos,” he said.
“Inaanyayahan ko ang ating mga kasamahan na dumalo at makibahagi sa proseso. Dapat ipagpatuloy ng Senado ang trabaho, tuparin ang mandato, at tugunan ang pangangailangan ng bansa,” he added.
Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri also said the majority bloc is ready to perform its mandate and help the Senate act on urgent matters.
“Papasok tayo, magtatrabaho tayo and we will do our duty for the people… Walang drama, walang delay, walang dahilan para hindi magtrabaho,” Sen. Zubiri said in a statement.
Dy, for his part, assured the President that the House “stands ready to heed the President’s call and continue advancing legislation that directly responds to the needs of our people.”
The Speaker also noted that all of the measures specifically identified by President Marcos Jr. in his latest proclamation have already been approved by the lower chamber.
The measures identified for consideration include:
- Proposed National Center for Geriatric Health Act
- Amendments to the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GATSPE) Act
- Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) Act
- Amendments to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA)
- Last Mile and Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) Schools Act
- Amendments to the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act
- Anti-Political Dynasty Law
- Presidential Merit Scholarship Program
According to Dy, the House had already acted on 26 of the 52 measures under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) Common Legislative Agenda before adjourning sine die on June 3.
“The House has already laid much of the groundwork for these priority reforms. We stand ready to work with the Senate and the Executive Branch to complete the legislative process and deliver meaningful benefits to the Filipino people,” he said.
He likewise underscored Congress’ commitment to ensuring that these measures not only become law but “ultimately translate into better lives, better opportunities, and a more secure future for our people.”
Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos emphasized that the House maintained a productive legislative pace throughout the First Regular Session of the 20th Congress and remains prepared to continue working on priority measures identified by the President.
“The House has demonstrated its readiness to act decisively on important reforms. We look forward to working with our colleagues in the Senate and our partners in the Executive Branch to complete these measures and deliver real, lasting benefits to the Filipino people,” Rep. Marcos said.
In issuing Proclamation No. 1318, the Chief Executive said urgent action is needed to address challenges confronting the Filipino people.
“Families affected by the recent earthquake in Mindanao require immediate assistance. Students need continued support to pursue their education. Our senior citizens deserve better healthcare. Our children must have better nutrition and vulnerable sectors need stronger protection,” the President said.
“The needs of the Filipino people do not pause when Congress is not in session. The government must continue to respond, and the welfare of every Filipino must remain our highest priority,” the President added.
-jpv
