Senate to tackle priority bills as 17th Congress resumes in 3-week schedule
THE House of Representatives is set to discuss pending local and national bills in the next three weeks as regular sessions resume Monday.
“All pending bills for approval, either local bills or bills of national significance, (are) a priority. And action will depend on the presence of a quorum,” said Majority Leader Fredenil H. Castro of the 2nd district of Capiz in a phone message.
In her phone message when sought for comment, House Ways and Means committee chairperson and Nueva Ecija (1st district) Rep. Estrellita B. Suansing said, “We don’t have pending…priority bills. We are waiting for the Bicam (after) the bills…passed and pending in the Senate.”
Senators on Monday will hold a caucus to discuss the chamber’s “legislative priority,” Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III said in a phone message.
Mr. Sotto said among the priority bills are amendments to the Public Service Act, as being monitored by businessmen, and to the Human Security Act as well as the proposed Medical Scholarship Act.
Senate Bill No. 1754 will amend Commonwealth Act No. 146 or the 82-year-old Public Service Act, by providing a clearer definition of public services, which had been used interchangeably with public utilities such as electricity and waterworks.
Also among the priorities are the Budget Reform Act, Rightsizing the National Government Act, the Salary Standardization Law, the bill establishing the Mindanao Railways Authority, and Reformation of Children in Conflict with the Law, which are up for second reading. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras and Charmaine A. Tadalan
