Drilon: 66 Senate bills enacted into law in 2015

Senate President Franklin Drilon lauded Thursday what he called as the strong legislative performance of the chamber with 66 of the 148 local and national bills it passed signed into the law by President Benigno Aquino III this year.

“This year has proven to be a bountiful harvest for the Senate, in terms of new legislation that will improve the life of Juan dela Cruz through expanding the economy, advancing social welfare, and strengthening the judicial system,” Drilon said.

Since the start of the 16th Congress on July 22, 2013, 89 laws have been passed.

At the weekly Kapihan sa Senado news forum, Drilon said the Senate will not let up in its legislative efforts.

“Even with the elections drawing close, we have much work to do in the in the Senate. We intend to make good on our promise to the Filipino people on the start of the 16th Congress that we will help the poor, widen the delivery of education and other social services and improve the economy,” he said.

He added the Senate will continue to be a working chamber and "we will maximize our remaining time to continue our mandate  and  work on relevant, important and much-needed laws for our people.”

New legislations

Drilon said included in the 66 new laws passed were new legislations aimed at increasing the take-home pay of Filipinos, such as the P82,000 tax exemption cap for 13th Month Pay (RA 10653) and other benefits  and Joint Resolution No. 5 that increases the daily subsistence allowance of all enlisted and uniformed personnel.

He said the Senate also has passed HB 5842, or the P2,000 across the board increase to the monthly pension received by retirees under the Social Security System (SSS) and now awaits the President’s approval and signing into law.

It also passed on third reading the measure that will grant education assistance and benefits to dependents of all members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Philippine Coast Guard, and Bureau of Correctional.

It likewise passed the bill that will provide retirement benefits to barangay officials, including barangay tanods, members of the Lupon ng Tagapamayapa, barangay health workers, and barangay day care workers.

Drilon expressed hope they will be able to pass the Salary Standardization Law IV, which will increase the salaries of about 1.6 million government employees, on third reading upon the resumption of the session on Jan. 18, 2016.

The Senate also passed  the Philippine Competition Act (RA 10667),  which enforces a national competition policy and prohibits unfair and anti-competitive business practices;  and the amended Cabotage Law (RA 10668), which allows foreign-flagged ships to call at multiple ports within the country.

“The passage of the Philippine Competition Act and the amendments to the Cabotage Law, which had languished in the legislative mill for decades, is the defining point of this year’s session. It is a victory for the average Filipino who will benefit the most from improved market policies,” Drilon said. 

The Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act (RA 10708) aimed to make transparent the fiscal incentives being issued by the government to the private sector was also enacted into law while Drilon expects the Customs and Tariff Modernization Act to be approved on third reading in January.

Drilon said the Congress also enacted RA 10564 to strengthen the campaign against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the country and to ensure its compliance with its obligations under international conventions and standards.

Awaiting the approval of the President are the creation of the Department of Information and Technology and the acquisition of road right of way for government infrastructure projects.

Meanwhile, the bill that amends the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation Charter, which aims to protect depositors from financial ruin and maintain confidence in the banking system, is pending at the bicameral conference committee.

Drilon said the Senate has also concurred in nine treaties aimed at enhancing the country’s trade and investment relations with other countries.

The Senate chief said the chamber worked for strengthening the justice system with the approval of the amendments to the Sandiganbayan Act (RA 10660) to further strengthen its functional and structural organization, and the amendments to the Probation Law (RA 10707), which expands the benefit of probation.

The Senate also approved 15 news laws creating municipal and regional trial courts to help improve judicial efficiency.

Drilon said that the Senate continues to give priority to expanding the reach of educational services in the country with the passage of the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Act (RA 10687) which will harmonize student financial assistance programs for poor but deserving college students, and the law which authorizes the Open High School System (RA 10655) for out-of-school youth.

“We have also increased the state’s support for our student athletes, by enacting the National Athletes, Coaches and Trainers Benefits and Incentives Act (RA 10699) for greater and more organized provision of state funding and support to our athletes, and the Student Athletes Protection Act (RA 10676), to ensure that student athletes receive quality education even while participating in athletic events,” he said.

He said the Senate also passed the PAGASA Modernization Act (RA 10692), which would pour more funds into our state weather bureau and boost the nation’s ability to “effectively manage weather and geological-related risks.”

He said the measure that will expand the benefits and privileges of persons with disability is waiting for the approval of the President.  — RSJ, GMA News