Speech of Senate President Franklin M. Drilon
Adjournment Sine Die of the 1st Regular Session of the 16th Congress
June 11. 2014
My esteemed colleagues, good afternoon.
As the First Regular Session of the 16th Congress comes to a close, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude and deepest appreciation to my dear colleagues for their boundless enthusiasm and single-mindedness in pursuing our legislative agenda, which translated into an impressive legislative performance.
Since we opened the 16th Congress in July last year, it has been a difficult and challenging journey for the Senate. I would like to thank the members of this august chamber for remaining composed and focused on our mandate despite the barrage of harsh and relentless criticisms directed at our beloved institution when the PDAF controversy surfaced last year.
The openness in which we have allowed media to report on this matter and the trust we have for our legal processes show how strong we have built our democratic foundations to withstand political turmoil. However, we cannot deny that the PDAF controversy has cast a long, dark shadow over the institution. And we completely understand the people’s outrage. Thus, the members of this august chamber collectively sought ways to address the issue. We abolished the PDAF even before the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional. We conducted our own investigation on the alleged misuse of the pork barrel funds.
By undertaking these measures, we are telling our people that the Senate is listening to their pleas and clamors for reforms. We are sending a clear and strong message that their Senate is sensitive to their grievances and concerns.
Amid these spirit-breaking challenges, I am certain that each one of us only has the nation’s and institution’s best interest at heart. We might be going through turbulent times right now, but I am confident that, in time, we will be able to restore the people’s respect and trust in the Senate.
We must not lose sight of our ultimate goal, which is to provide a better life for each Filipino; a life that is not wanting in choices and opportunities. Neither should we forget that the Senate, a bastion of democracy, has a glorious beginning and a history of honor in public service. And we shall endeavor to bring back that glory and honor.
Even if the PDAF scandal was constantly hogging the headlines and trending in the social media for months, and despite the severe public beating, the Senate continues to work around the clock, deliberating on bills and crafting measures that would significantly improve the life of our countrymen. Despite the controversies and political intrigues that incessantly plague the institution, we have persevered and continue to discharge our duties to the Republic and to the people.
Today, as we adjourn sine die our First Regular Session, allow me to report to our people what the Senate of the Philippines has accomplished.
The First Regular Session of the 16th Congress has afforded us the opportunity to prove the stability of our institution in the face of adversity. This august chamber, which has traditionally reveled in the confidence of the electorate and consistently maintained its prominence, has been battered by, perhaps, the gravest crisis to have ever crossed its path. In my 16 years in the Senate, never before have I witnessed this kind of turmoil.
As we continue to brave through the unforgiving blizzard of scandals and controversies, our commitments and vows to the people serve as our guiding light on the road to recovery and redemption.
While we defend our institution against doubts to its integrity, our constituents are faced with a tougher fight – a fight for survival as natural disasters hitting the nation in recent years are evolving with terrifying intensity and frequency. In 2013, one of the strongest typhoons ever recorded ripped through the Visayas and left a trail of devastation of epic proportions, from which residents of the region are still staggering to recover.
In this light, we worked for the timely enactment of measures to enable our people to quickly get back on their feet.
Among these measures is RA 10633, which was enacted in record time and established the national budget for 2014 at P2.265 trillion. Since calamity-stricken areas necessitate prompt delivery of basic services, social services received bulk of the allocation at P841.8 billion, representing 37.2% of the national budget. This measure also introduced the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program, which apportioned P20 billion to empower the victims of the most tragic natural and man-made calamities in the past year, specifically, the typhoons Yolanda, Santi, Odette, Pablo, Sendong, Vinta, Labuyo, the 7.2 magnitude earthquate in Bohol, and the Zamboanga City siege. Moreover, it provided for a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund of P13 billion, and Quick Response Fund of P4.8 billion, both of which bolster the government’s capacity to address and the people’s readiness to face these catastrophic phenomena. The law likewise allocated P80 billion for reconstruction and rehabilitation programs under the Unprogrammed Fund.
In terms of distribution among agencies, the Department of Education garnered the largest percentage share at 27.23%, representing P309.43 billion. Other departments with significant shares are the following:
| BUDGET OF SELECTED SECTORS |
| (in billion pesos) | Percent Share | |
| Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) | 219.91 | 19.36 |
| Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) | 136.14 | 11.98 |
| Department of National Defense (DND) | 123.19 | 10.84 |
| Department of Health (DOH) | 90.77 | 7.98 |
| Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) | 83.40 | 7.34 |
| Department of Agriculture (DA) | 80.03 | 7.04 |
| Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) | 48.89 | 4.30 |
| Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) | 23.92 | 2.10 |
| Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) | 20.38 | 1.79 |
Considering the scale of devastation caused by the disasters in 2013, we likewise aggressively steered the passage of measures allowing utilization of our 2013 national budget until the end of this year to aid the survivors. RA 10634 appropriated P14.6 billion to augment the Calamity Fund in the 2013 national budget by P11.2 billion and the Quick Response Fund by P3.4 billion. On the other hand,Joint Res. No. 1 extended the validity of appropriations under the Calamity Fund and Quick Response Fund in the 2013 national budget, including those sourced from savings realigned in the current year and all unobligated allotments and unreleased appropriations from the PDAF.
Aside from measures capacitating our people to pull through in the face of successive mishaps, we enacted RA 10635, which established the MARINA as a single and central maritime administration to comply with international standards, and therefore averted the possible employment ban against 80,000 Filipino seafarers in the European Union. We also passed RA 10632, which postponed the Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, to give the Congress sufficient time to formulate substantial reforms to this youth governance mechanism. Just today, the president signed RA 10633 granting Philippine citizenship to Andray Blatche.
Over and above these six measures that successfully completed the legislative process, nine bills await President Aquino’s approval, reflecting our unwavering commitment to focus on delivering pieces of legislation that will improve the quality of life for every Filipino.
Among these bills is HB 353 which forms part of the government’s continuing mission to boost our country’s resilience to calamities by mandating telecommunications service providers to send free mobile alerts in the event of natural and man-made disasters. Under the bill, the alerts shall consist of updated information from the relevant agencies, and shall be sent directly to the mobile phone subscribers located near and within the affected areas. We trust that this measure would help achieve the main objectives of disaster preparedness, which are to lessen the impact of the typhoon and ultimately save lives.
Also on the list is the proposed Graphic Health Warning Law, which seeks to increase the awareness of the public especially among the youth on the harmful and deadly effects of smoking. Under the bill, graphic health warnings in full color shall be printed on at least 50% of the principal display surface of tobacco packages sold in the market. We believe that the passage of this proposed measure will bring us closer to our goal of protecting the present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.
On the other hand, also awaiting the President’s approval is our proposed amendments to the Act Liberalizing the Scope and Entry of Operations of Foreign Banks. This bill aims to expand the participation of qualified foreign banks in our financial sector in preparation for the forthcoming ASEAN economic integration. Under this measure, reputable and financially sound foreign banks shall be allowed to acquire up to 100% of the voting stocks of domestic banks. We are confident that, with greater foreign participation in our banking sector, we shall have access to a bigger pool of financial resources in order to support various infrastructure projects and other development initiatives.
Another priority measure that hurdled both houses of Congress is the bill extending the corporate life of the Philippine National Railways as its charter is set to expire this month. Recognizing the importance of PNR’s uninterrupted service to the riding public, both houses worked intently to ensure this measure’s swift passage in their respective domains.
Other measures awaiting the Chief Executive’s signature are:
| 1. | S. No. 2046 | Promoting the Reduction of Poverty Through the Development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises |
| 2. | S. No. 2211 | Strengthening Consumer Protection in the Purchase of Brand New Motor Vehicles |
| 3. | S. No. 2273 | Further Strengthen The Anti-Drug Campaign Of The Government, Amending For The Purpose Section 21 Of Republic Act No. 9165, Otherwise Known As The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act Of 2002 |
| 4. | H. No. 3187 | Granting Cotabato Light And Power Company, A Franchise To Construct, Install, Establish, Operate And Maintain A Distribution System For The Conveyance Of Electric Power To The End-Users In The City Of Cotabato And Portions Of The Municipalities Of Datu Odin Sinsuat And Sultan Kudarat, Both In The Province Of Maguindanao |
| 5. | H. Jt. Res. 12 | Declaring 27 July 2014 As A Special Nonworking Holiday To Commemorate The Founding Anniversary Of The Iglesia Ni Cristo |
The Senate has likewise approved on third and final reading four more measures, which include landmark bills on good governance and public accountability.
SB 1733, or the Freedom of Information Act, seeks to implement a policy of full public disclosure of all government transactions involving public interest, with appropriate safeguards to protect national security and national interest. Once enacted into law, this measure shall launch a culture of transparency, accountability and public participation in government.
On the other hand, SB 2138 aims to strengthen the structural capability of the Sandiganbayan and thereby empower such court to effectively and speedily resolve cases against erring government officials and employees. The bill seeks to introduce innovations to the anti-graft court, such as the concept of justice-designate, modification in the voting requirement, and transfer of jurisdiction to the regional trial courts.
Other bills we have approved on third reading are:
| 1. | S. No. 1281 | Declaring August 18 Of Every Year As ‘Jesse Robredo’ Day, A Special Working Holiday |
| 2. | S. No. 2226 | Protecting The Amateur Nature Of Student-Athletes In The Philippines By Regulating The Residency Requirement And Prohibiting The Commercialization Of Student-Athletes |
Also in the advanced stages of the legislative process are five bills approved on second reading, majority of which seeks to remove the traditional barriers to the effective delivery of education throughout the country, namely poverty, distance and age. These are SB 2274, which seeks to expand access to education through open learning and distance education in tertiary levels of education; SB 2272, which aims to strengthen the ladderized interface between technical-vocational education and training and higher education; SB 2212, which actively promotes entrepreneurship and financial education among the Filipino youth; and SB 2275, which mandates all state colleges and universities to annually confer automatic admission and provide scholarship grants to the top 10 public high school students of their graduating class.
Likewise passed on second reading is SB 1647, which aims to repeal the crime of premature marriage under the Revised Penal Code.
When we commence the Second Regular Session in July, we shall resume consideration of 20 bills currently under plenary debates and amendments:
| 1. | S. No. 12 | Providing Barangay Officials, Including Barangay Tanods, Members Of The Lupon Ng Tagapamayapa, Barangay Health Workers And Barangay Day Care Workers A Retirement Benefit |
| 2. | S. No. 29 | Prohibiting The Discrimination On The Employment Of Any Individual On The Basis Merely Of Age |
| 3. | S.No. 136 | Reforming The National Apprenticeship Program And Providing Standards For The Training And Employment Of Apprentices, And Regulatory Standards For Accreditation Of Apprenticeship Programs |
| 4. | S. No. 480 | Increasing the Quarter Allowance of Officers and Enlisted Personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines |
| 5. | S. No. 510 | Declaring The Fifth Day Of October Of Every Year As The National Teachers’ Day |
| 6. | S. No. 914 | Regulate and Modernize the Practice of Chemistry in the Philippines, Repealing for the Purpose Republic Act Numbered 754 Entitled, “An Act to Regulate the Practice of Chemistry in the Philippines” |
| 7. | S. No. 2042 | Prohibiting the Development, Production, Stockpiling, Use of Chemical Weapons and Providing for their Destruction |
| 8. | S. No. 2055 | Regulating the Practice of Forestry in the Philippines, Repealing for this Purpose Republic Act Numbered Sixty-two Hundred Thirty-Nine, Known as “The Forestry Profession Law” |
| 9. | S. No. 2103 | Regulating the Practice of Metallurgical Engineering in the Philippines, Repealing for this Purpose Presidential Decree Numbered 1536, Otherwise Known as the Metallurgical Engineering Law of the Philippines |
| 10. | S. No. 2134 | Reorganizing The Cooperative Development Authority, Repealing For The Purpose Republic Act No. 6939, Creating The Cooperative Development Authority |
| 11. | S. No. 2161 | Crafting the Quezon City Development Authority (QCDA), Defining its Powers and Functions, Providing for its Organizational Structure and Capitalization |
| 12. | S. No. 2207 | Amending Some Provisions Of Republic Act No. 8550, Otherwise Known As The Philippine Fisheries Code Of 1998 |
| 13 | S. No. 2210 | Institutionalizing the Poverty Reduction Through Social Entrepreneurship (Present) Program and Promoting Social Enterprises with the Poor as Primary Stakeholders |
| 14. | S. No. 2239 | Requiring All Franchise Holders Or Operators Of Television Stations And Producers Of Television Programs To Broadcast Or Present Their Programs With Closed Captions Options |
| 15. | S. No. 2270 | Ensuring the Fundamental Equality of Men and Women Under the Laws on Marriage and Family Relations, Amending for the Purpose Executive Order No. 209, Otherwise Known as The Family Code of the Philippines |
| 16. | S. No. 2271 | Establishing A Framework For Film And Television Tourism In The Philippines, Marketing The Industry Globally And Providing Employment For The Sector |
| 17. | S. No. 2277 | Establishing the Open High School System in the Philippines |
| 18. | S. No. 2278 | Mandating The Completion Of The Land Acquisition And Distribution (LAD) Component Of The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) By June 30, 2016 Pursuant To Republic Act No. 6657, Otherwise Known As The ‘Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law’, As Amended |
| 19. | S. No. 2280 | Amending Presidential Decree No. 968, otherwise known as the Probation Law of 1976, as Amended |
| 20. | S. Jt. Res. 2 | Increasing the Subsistence Allowance of All Officers and Enlisted Personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and of all Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Personnel of the Philippine National Police From Ninety Pesos (P90.00) to One Hundred and Fifty Pesos (P150.00) Per Day |
Moreover, we have concurred in the ratification of international treaties with the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Spain, and India to boost the government’s effort to fight criminality, especially those related to child trafficking and prostitution.
We also adopted 44 resolutions that range from commendation to expression of sympathy.
Finally, our permanent committees, subcommittees and joint congressional oversight committees have likewise actively conducted 352 public hearings on 806 bills, from which we gained the valuable insights and helpful views of stakeholders on various legislative proposals.
All told, not only have we maintained our focus on the tasks that had earned us our membership in this august chamber, we have also outpaced the legislative output of the previous Congress. At the adjournment sine die of the First Regular Session of the 15th Congress, three measures were enacted into law, six bills transmitted for the approval of the President, eight bills approved on second and third reading, and one treaty concurred. While for the same period in the 16th Congress, six measures were enacted into law, nine for the approval of the President, nine approved on second and third reading, and three treaties concurred.
The Senate has shown a strong resolve to fulfill its duty to the nation, with fervor and determination. Never have we neglected our obligation to the people, despite our present difficulties. Even as we take a respite, we shall endeavor to recover the people’s faith in the Senate as a democratic institution.
Before I end, let me thank the Senate Secretariat and our respective staff for the unswerving support and competent service they have consistently given the members of this chamber.
To my esteemed colleagues, I commend all of you for your dedication to fulfill your sworn duty, undeterred by the issues hounding the institution. I am also thankful and deeply humbled by your continued trust and confidence in my leadership.
I have prepared a longer and more comprehensive report, which will be inserted into the Record and Journal of the Senate.
Thank you very much.
God bless the Senate.
God bless the Filipino.
God bless the Republic of the Philippines.
Source: http://www.senate.gov.ph/
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