SENATORS WILL begin filing their pet bills and resolutions on Monday, three weeks before the opening of the 18th Congress on July 22, the Office of the Senate Secretary said Sunday. “These guidelines, in consultation with the Office of the Senate President and concerned officers of the Legislative Department, are prescribed to prevent early and long queuing, conserve human resources and manpower, and maintain order within the Senate premises,” the statement quoted Senate Secretary Myra Marie D. Villarica as saying. Among the first to file are Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon, Senators Panfilo M. Lacson, Francis N. Pangilinan and Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph G. Recto, in that order. Mr. Pangilinan, in a statement Sunday, said he will re-file the proposed Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Act or the Coco Levy Act, which was approved by the 17th Congress but was vetoed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte. The next batch will be Senators Manuel M. Lapid, Pia S. Cayetano and Ramon B. Revilla Jr., Richard J. Gordon, Aquilino L. Pimentel III and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri. Next would be reelected Senators Nancy S. Binay, Grace Poe-Llamanzares, Juan Edgardo M. Angara and Cynthia A. Villar, and incumbent Senator Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva, Sherwin T. Gatchalian, Leila M. de Lima, and Emmanuel D. Pacquiao. The last would be newly-elected Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go, Francis N. Tolentino, Imee R. Marcos and Ronald M. dela Rosa. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR