Press Release
July 27, 2019

Almost 800 measures filed on 1st week of 18th Congress

Almost 800 legislative measures have clogged the Senate bills and index service upon the start of the First Regular Session of the 18th Congress last July 1.

As of Thursday, July 25, a total of 783 bills were filed and numbered, and some resolutions seeking an investigation on several issues.

While survey companies gave the Senate very good performance ratings, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III said the Senate is all set to buckle down to work.

"The 17thCongress is one of the most well accepted and trusted by the people," Sotto said.

"Hopefully, the 18thCongress would be able to do better," he said.

"We expect more healthy debates and we expect that there will be better legislation or necessary legislation that would be passed," he added.

Of the almost 800 bills filed, majority of which are re-filed measures that either did not pass committee approval or did not hurdle second or third reading during the 17th Congress. Others were passed on final reading but failed to get through the bicameral conference committee.

Expectedly, veteran senators have re-filed their pet bills on the first week of July.

Sen. Leila de Lima was the last to file last Thursday. She filed Senate Bill No. 738 or "An Act Providing for a Rural Employment Assistance Program." Despite being incarcerated, she has already filed 36 bills.

But come-backing Senator Ramon 'Bong' Revilla outsmarted some of them, having filed over 100 bills since the start of the filing of measures.

Among the neophyte senators, Sen. Imee Marcos, a former congresswoman, has filed most, with 21 bills and five resolutions.

Marcos, daughter of former President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., shunned firing squad as penalty to execute big time drug convicts. She, however, did not offer what method to apply in implementing the death penalty against big time drug offenders.

Former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go has filed 20 bills, among which is the revival of death penalty for drug traffickers and plunderers.

Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, a first time senator who was the former chief of the Philippine National Police, has filed 17 bills, among which is a bill seeking to integrate the mandatory substance abuse prevention education in the health curriculum as early as Grade 4.

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