Press Release
June 1, 2016

Senate adjourns sine die next Monday

The Senate will go on sine die adjournment on Monday, June 6, 2016, for the last time in the 16th Congress.

Senate Secretary Oscar G. Yabes said that Senate President Franklin M. Drilon is expected to deliver a speech on Monday about the many legislative achievements and reforms made by the Senate during the 16th Congress, which began last July 22, 2013.

As of today, June 1, 2016, the Senate of the 16th Congress passed 238 new laws.

Among the most important laws passed by the Senate are landmark economic reforms like the Philippine Competition Act (RA 10667), the Amendments to the Cabotage Law (RA 10668), the amendments to the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (RA 10846), the Right of Way Act (RA 10752), and the Tax Incentives Transparency and Management Act (RA 10708), along with political reforms like the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act (RA 10742), anti-corruption laws like the Sandiganbayan Reform Act (RA 10660), and health reforms like the Graphic Health Warning Act (RA 10643).

Other crucial laws passed by the Senate include pro-education legislation such as the Iskolar ng Bayan Act (RA 10648) and the United Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Act (RA 10687), along with laws improving the country's social services like the Mandatory Philhealth Coverage for All Senior Citizens (RA 10645), and the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability (RA 10754), along with pro-labor laws like the P82,000 tax exemption cap for 13th Month Pay and other benefits (RA 10653), the MARINA Act (RA 10635), and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Act (RA 10801).

The Senate also worked to pass new laws for better public services for Filipinos, like the act that established the new Department of Information and Communications Technology or DICT Act of 2015 (RA 10844), the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (RA 10863), the amendments to the Fisheries Code (RA 10654), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration Modernization Act (RA 10692), and the Philippine Lemon Law, which strengthens consumer protection in the purchase of brand new vehicles (RA 10642).

During the 16th Congress, the Senate also introduced major institutional reforms such as the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or "pork-barrel" funds for lawmakers.

Yabes also said that on the day of adjournment, several outgoing senators are expected to deliver their valedictory addresses at the Senate floor.

Outgoing senators include Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, along with Senators Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Manuel "Lito" Lapid, Sergio "Serge" R. Osmeña III, Teofisto "TG" Guingona III, Pia Cayetano and Miriam Defensor Santiago.

Joining the Senate of the 17th Congress are newly-elected and first-time Senators Joel Villanueva, Risa Hontiveros, Sherwin Gatchalian, Leila de Lima, and Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao, along wiith re-electionists Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Tito Sotto III, and former Senators Richard Gordon, Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, and Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri.

According to Yabes, the newly-elected and re-elected senators will take their oaths during the opening of the first regular session of the 17th Congress on July 25, 2016.

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