Koko on proposed "Bayan Bangon Muli" stimulus bill: Nakadapa ba ang bansa ngayon?

Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Friday expressed his intent to scrutinize and debate on a stimulus bill which seeks to provide funds for the incoming administration's pandemic response to be dubbed as "Bayan Bangon Muli."

The lawmaker also expressed reservations to the proposed title of the measure.

In a text message to GMA News Online, Pimentel said the passage of the measure floated by House Majority Leader and returning Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez, would depend on the details of the bill.

"It boils down to the details," Pimentel said when asked if the bill has a chance in the Senate in the next Congress.

"Pati title punahin. Nakadapa ba ang bayan ngayon?" he added.

On Thursday, Romualdez, cousin of presumptive president Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and also poised to become the 19th Congress' House speaker, disclosed that some lawmakers have proposed the Bayan Bangon Muli bill which will "allow the incoming president to harness the resources available to him during this closing period of 2022 and address the measures that are needed for the pandemic, hopefully endemic stage of this COVID issue."

The 18th Congress has passed two "Bayanihan" laws to supplement funds for the recovery and response of the government against the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, which hit the country in March 2020.

Meanwhile, re-elected Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who ran under Marcos and presumptive Vice President Sara Duterte's slate, said he will check the details of the bill proposed by the incoming 19th Congress solons.

"[I]n theory, I support a stimulus program that will not be adverse to our fiscal standing," Gatchalian said in a separate text message to GMA News Online.

On the other hand, outgoing Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon expressed confidence that the next batch of senators would stand against any measure that will only serve the next administration's political agenda.

"I am sure that the senators will not stand for any measure which will not serve any purpose but the political agenda of the administration," Drilon said when asked if the proposed Bayan Bangon Muli bill is too political.

Further, the veteran lawmaker advised the neophyte senators to study and observe first the traditions and the processes in the Upper Chamber.

"Sa akin po, dapat mag-aral sila dahilan po ang Senado ay parang aquarium, 24 lang sila at ang buong bansa ay nakatingin lalo na ngayon mayroong social media, the 24 senators would be easy to monitor as contrast in the [House of Representatives] where there are 300 [members]. You can hide under the numbers there, in the Senate you cannot do that," Drilon said.

"So if there is anything I can advise them is to study. Having been elected in the Senate, that is just the starting point because you have to show, you have to prove the trust entrusted to you by those who elected you and as a part of the learning curve they should just observe the traditions," he added.

In terms of committee chairmanship, Drilon said those who are considered seniors in the chamber were traditionally given the privilege to lead the major Senate panels than the topnotchers of the senatorial race.

"Usually, the major committees, the more senior ones would have preference as a matter of tradition," he said.

Citing his personal experience, the lawmaker said he was once deprived of leading one of the major committees in the Senate as he was then considered as a neophyte senator.

"When I was new in 1995, because of the closeness to the late Senate President Angara, he passed on to me the Blue Ribbon Committee and he was criticized for that and I was criticized for accepting it—not in public but within the Senate—because I was a neophyte senator, so there are certain traditions which we observe," he noted.

"The tradition in the Senate is that seniority is given weight and recognition. That’s all I can say, of course everybody is qualified, but maybe…but if you talk about tradition, the senior ones would be given priority in the major committees. Of course, everything is a matter of compromise but certainly being a topnotcher is a factor in your favor but as far as I recall, seniority is a determining factor or is a weighty consideration or a heavier consideration rather than your rank in the election," he added.

Although the 19th Congress has yet to open, some neophyte senators are already eyeing chairmanship of major Senate committees, including Senator-elect Robin Padilla who expressed intent to lead the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments.—AOL, GMA News