Senators to meet Tuesday to discuss priority bills
-A A +AMonday, July 23, 2012
MANILA -- Bills on creation of new provinces and legislative districts and measures aimed at strengthening the economy are just some of the matters to be discussed by Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile when he meets his colleagues on Tuesday.
He said the local bills on reorganization of districts and provinces should be tackled soon since the filing of certificate of candidacies for the 2013 elections is in October.
If approved by the President and the subsequent plebiscite, a new set of leaders should likewise be elected, making congressional approval vital in the process.
Meanwhile, the following are in third and final reading: Senate Bill 3071 that aims to promote competitive Filipino design and the promotion of a national design policy; SB 2842 that seeks to upgrade the copyright section of the Department and Industry into a servicing bureau under the Intellectual Property Office; and SB 2746 that seeks to eliminate the sale of dead meat in the market by providing label or origin for meal and meat products.
Listed as priority as well are Senate Bill 3098 or the Anti-Trust Law that seeks to prohibit or discourage the formation of monopolies and anti-competitive conduct; SB 3208 or the People’s Ownership over Government Information (POGI); SB 107 or the proposal to require public officials and employees to submit a written permission of waiver in favor of the Ombudsman to look into bank deposits; and SB 2865 or the Reproductive Health Bill, among others.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago earlier expressed confidence the Senate will approve the RH bill in August after the chamber ended the period of debates before it went on a month-long break on June 7.
The Senate is also expecting the submission of Malacañang of the proposed P2-trillion national budget for next year.
“In the same way that Congress passed the General Appropriations Act in the previous regular sessions in an expeditious manner, I am confident that the Senate committee on finance will likewise work hard for the timely passage of the 2013 budget,” Enrile said.
The third regular session of the 15th Congress opened Monday. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)
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