Sotto cites passage of pandemic-related measures at 2nd regular session’s closing speech

As the chamber closed the Second Regular Session of Congress, Senate President Vicente Sotto III highlighted the passage of measures intended to address the country’s medical and economic needs amid COVID-19 pandemic.

In his speech, Sotto cited the passage of the Bayanihan To Recover As One Act in September 2020 and the approval of the law establishing the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021.

“Isa itong kritikal na hakbang para mapangalagaan ang imyunidad ng lahat, at sa huli ay manumbalik sa normal ang lahat,” Sotto said in the early part of his speech.

(This is a critical step to ensure the immunity of everyone and at the end, we will go back to our normal lives.)

The Senate chief also emphasized the legislation of bills extending the availability and effectivity of the 2020 National Budget and the Bayanihan 2 Law.

Sotto said that to address medical needs, the Senate has acted on 21 bills of local application creating schools, hospitals, and expanding bed capacity in hospitals in various parts of the country, including Republic Act No. 11509, or the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act, which is one of the lawmaker’s pet bills.

The senator also cited the passage of Republic Act No. 11523, otherwise known as the Financial Strategic Transfer (FIST) Act as a bid to ensure financial resiliency.

Apart from that, Senate was able to pass the law suspending the increases in the contributions to the Social Security System.

Sotto also noted important measures that will help the economy regain its growth.

These are the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act which was already enacted into law, the amendments to the Retail Trade Liberalization Law which is already in the bicameral conference committee, and the amendments to the Public Service Act which is currently under the period of interpellations in the Senate plenary.

“We often think that our government is not acting fast enough. There may be some truth to that statement. But let me put it in context. In extraordinary times such as this—where there are so many unknowns—no government, not even the most advanced country in the world, can act fast enough,” Sotto said.

“I say this not as an excuse, but as an exhortation to be patient. Hindi ko nais na isawalang bahala ang inyong puna, kung mayroon man. Hangad ko lang ang na habaan natin ang ating pisi at pasensiya,” he appealed.

Sotto likened the COVID-19 response to the fable of the tortoise and the hare, saying the country will win over the pandemic “not because of how fast we run, but how wise we are at strategizing for the win.”

“Sabay nating harapin ang liwanag ng mas magandang bukas. Pinatumba man tayo ng pandemya, alam kong lalaban ang bayang Pilipinas. Babangon itong mas malakas, at mas matatag at mas hihigitan ang lugmok ng kanyang pagkakadapa,” he ended.

Both Houses of Congress are set to adjourn sessions starting July 4.

The House of Representatives and the Senate will resume sessions before President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his final State of the Nation Address later this month. — BM, GMA News