Drilon hails Senate legislative performance amid ‘pork’ scandal

Senate President Franklin Drilon FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Despite the pork barrel scandal, the Senate registered a “strong legislative performance” approving more than 19 bills and 41 resolutions, Senate President Franklin Drilon said on Wednesday.

Congress will adjourn sine die this Wednesday and will resume its sessions on July 28.

“Despite the many concerns and challenges that the Senate as an institution had to face – such as the pork barrel scam – I believe the details of our work show that legislation remains the chamber’s main focus, and that we are able to effectively deliver on our commitment to our citizenry and our nation,” Drilon said in a statement.

Drilon noted that from July 22, 2013 to June 11, 2014, the Senate  approved five bills, which were signed into law, including passing in record time of the 2014 General Appropriations Act while 10 more bills are just waiting for President’s signature.

In the same period, he said, the chamber approved eight bills on second and third reading and adopted 41 resolutions.

The Senate leader said that in several aspects, the legislative performance of the current senators had outpaced that of previous Congresses.

“We approved fifteen bills on final reading when senators in the 15th Congress approved only nine bills within the same period of time,” he pointed out.

Drilon said the Senate also concurred in the ratification of three international treaties with Spain, the United Kingdom and India.

He also cited how the senators focused on passing landmark bills on health, economy and government reforms such as the historic Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) and the proposed amendments to the Sandiganbayan Law.

Drilon said the disclosure of government actions under the FOI bill would be a “crucial and effective deterrent against possible malfeasance and corrupt practices by those in power.”

Once enacted into law, he said, the amendments to the Sandiganbayan Law will address the increasing backlog of cases in court.

The Senate had also approved measures to boost the national economy and consumer welfare such as the Go Negosyo Act, which seeks to reduce poverty by developing micro, small and medium enterprises, and the “liberalization of entry of foreign banks in the Philippines.”

Drilon also noted the passage into law of House Bill No. 353, which would require telecommunication companies to provide free alerts for mobile phone users in time of disasters, SBN 2043 or the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) bill which seeks to consolidate the training and certification of Filipino seafarers under a single maritime administration, and SBN 1831 which aims to extend the service and corporate life of the Philippine National Railways for another 50 years.

The chamber, he said, also approved landmark bills for the protection of public health such as the Graphic Health Warning Act and the proposed amendments to strengthen the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Drilon said other priority measures are still in the legislative agenda but they expect to resume discussion and passage of the proposed legislation when Congress resumes month.

“When we resume session, we will also work to increase the tax exemption ceiling of the 13th month pay, Christmas bonuses and other benefits from P30, 000 to P75, 000, so our humble workers can go home during the holidays without having to worry about decreases in their bonuses,” he said.

“We also have in our sights other fiscal and financial pieces of legislation such as the Anti-Trust Bill, amendments to the Fiscal Incentives Rationalization Act, and reforms to the Cabotage Law. Similarly, we are going to study the possibility of creating a Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and a fair competition act.”

The Senate leader also promised to “promptly” act on legislating the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which he said is “integral to the peace process in Mindanao.”

And as agreed upon with the leadership of the House of Representatives, Drilon said they will “soon discuss the possibility of economic provisions to the Constitution to improve the country’s ability to invite foreign direct investment.”

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