At least 16 of Duterte’s Sona bills may get Senate nod, says Sotto

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. INQUIRER file photo / EDWIN BACASMAS

MANILA, Philippines — At least 16 bills that President Rodrigo Duterte mentioned in his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) have a “high chance” of getting the Senate’s approval, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Tuesday.

“Marami, marami doon sa mga binanggit niya kakayanin talaga namin. As a matter of fact, nakikita ko, at least 16 sa mga sinabi niya malaki ang pag-asang mapasa lahat,” Sotto said in an interview over dzMM.

Among these is the President’s push for the pay hike of government workers including nurses and public school teachers, which Sotto said, should be a priority in the Senate.

READ: Duterte to Congress: Pass new law on gov’t workers, teachers salary hike

The revival of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) for Grades 11 or 12 could also pass the Senate, he said.

“Tinitingnan ko yung listahan, pinakikinggan ko kahapon, puro talagang kayang-kaya at talagang dapat. Kailangang-kailangan,” Sotto said.

However, it is only the reimposition of the death penalty that would face long debates in the higher chamber of Congress.

Sotto said passing the proposed death penalty in the Senate could be a “squeaker,” however, he noted that at least 13 senators might vote in favor of the proposal.

READ: Sotto counts at least 13 senators voting for restoration of death penalty

Below is the list of bills that the President asked the 18th Congress to pass during his fourth Sona:

• Department of Disaster Resilience
• Department of Water Resources
• Department of OFWs
• National Academy for Sports
• Barangay, SK polls postponement
• Tax reform bills including the Trabaho bill and those in the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program
• National Defense Act
• Uniformed Separation and Retirement Pension Bill
• Revival of the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC)
• Salary Standardization Law
• Magna Carta for Barangays
• National Land Use Bill
• Fire Protection Modernization Program
• Government ‘rightsizing’ bill
• Coco Levy fund

READ: Highlights of Duterte’s 4th State of the Nation Address

/jpv