(Eagle News)—Senate President Tito Sotto said the Senate has had a “prolific year,” crediting the senators for the body’s “highly efficient performance.”
In a statement, Sotto said that as of Dec. 13, 2018, 95 bills were passed into law since the start of 2018.
He said these include the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), the Philippine Identification System Act, the Filipino Sign Language Act, the National Payment Systems Act, the Personal Property Security Act, and the ‘Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act.’
He said 85 other enrolled bills are awaiting President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval and signature, 19 other bills are pending in the bicameral conference committee and 45 others were approved on third and final reading.
According to Sotto, some enrolled bills awaiting the President’s signature include the proposed Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines, Universal Healthcare Program Act, the bill on Mandatory Philhealth Coverage for all Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), the Social Security Act of 2018, the HIV/AIDS Prevention Act, the amendments to the charter of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Mobile Number Portability Act, the Expanded Maternity Leave Act, and the bill creating the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.
Other important bills pending in the bicameral conference committee include the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop Act, the National Integrated Cancer Control Program Act, and the bill expanding the supplemental appropriations for fiscal year for patients in relation to the Dengvaxia vaccine controversy.
“Swift action was taken by the Senate without sacrificing the keen and prolonged debates on most of these very important bills,” Sotto said.
He said this was made possible by the “good cooperation” among the members of the Senate, regardless of affiliation.
“The people I work in tandem with have spent years in Congress so we really have a good rapport, including the Senate Minority Leader. Experience, cooperation, and camaraderie goes a long way,” he said.
