Tell it to SunStar: New ‘endo’ bill faces veto sans President’s support

WE SHOULD secure Malacañang’s commitment that a new version of the endo bill will not be vetoed. It will be a futile exercise to revive it without that commitment. The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) and the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) should agree on one version.

The two frontline departments have opposing views.

The bill passed by Congress, which the President eventually vetoed, essentially carries the labor department’s position that differs from Neda’s.

There is a bipartisan support for the anti-endo bill, so its passage is almost a guarantee insofar as the Senate is concerned. However, the question is: will it be signed into law or will it suffer the same fate?

The bill is not included in the initial list of priority measures for the 18th Congress that was sent to Congress during the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council last Monday, Aug. 5, 2019.

I am less optimistic that an endo bill is possible without Congress getting Malacañang’s full support. Let’s face it, it is the President who holds the veto pen. Therefore, it is critical that for measures as important as the endo bill we secure the full support of Malacañang.

Before the Senate tackles the measure and spends resources and time to revive the measure, it is more practical for Congress leaders to get Cabinet secretaries opposing the measure the assurance that they will not stand in the way of the bill’s passage.