Brgy, SK poll postponement has no chance in Senate anymore —Pimentel

Despite the House of Representative’s approval of the postponement of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Monday, the polls set on May 14 will most likely push through as it has no counterpart bill in the Senate.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said the chamber will not be able to tackle the matter as Congress will go on a break on March 24 and resume session on May 14.

“Postponement of barangay elections has no chance anymore in the Senate,” Pimentel said in a message to reporters.

Meanwhile, on the proposed bill seeking to introduce absolute divorce and dissolution of marriage in the Philippines, Pimentel said the senators have to study it first.

“Dissolution of marriage is a new concept, hence, give us time to study it,” he said.

Without the Senate’s approval, the bills will not become a law.

Based on the legislative process being followed by the Senate, a bill or resolution should be filed first before a committee take it up and discuss it. After conducting hearings, the committee will then submit a report which should be sent to the plenary.

Once it is reported to the plenary, the senators will engage in a debate and interpellate to seek clarification on the proposed measure. There will also be a period of amendments where the senators could introduce changes to the bill.

The bill will then be voted for second reading and if approved, it will be calendared for third and final reading.

Once approved for third and final reading, the bill will be tackled by the bicameral conference committee which will reconcile the disagreement provisions between the versions of the House and Senate.

The bicam panel will then submit a reconciled version of the bill which will be ratified by both chambers. The ratified report will then be sent to Malacañang for either the signature or veto of the President. —KBK, GMA News