WITHOUT prejudice to his role as fiscalizer, House minority leader Joseph Stephen Paduano has vowed to support the priority legislative measures of the 18th Congress.
Paduano said he expects a smooth-sailing relationship between the House of Representatives and Senate after its leaders had met in an informal caucus at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong on Thursday, November 5, 2020.
"We will cooperate with the House leadership while we continue to perform as fiscalizers of the initiatives of the majority," he said.
The lawmaker clarified that the minority will maintain its critical cooperation with the leadership of House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, especially on the passage of urgent legislative measures aimed at alleviating poverty and addressing socio-economic woes brought about by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
He said the House and Senate leadership had earlier agreed to put forward a common legislative agenda that will streamline the legislative process and ensure speedy and efficient lawmaking.
He added that per agreement, "the minority will submit its own list of priority measures which may be included in the common agenda."
The common agenda is a consolidated list of priority legislation as identified by both houses, he said.
He stressed that "cooperation" is imperative between the two houses of Congress, as stated in Article 6, Section 1 of the Constitution.
Paduano was among the congressional leaders who attended the caucus initiated by Velasco.
Also at the hotel caucus were Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Senate committee on finance chair Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez and House committee on appropriations chair Eric Yap.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri and Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also joined the activity via Zoom.