EPIRA, JPEPA among Senate priority when session resumes

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate will tackle the amendments to the Energy Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) and the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) when the 14th Congress opens its second regular session on Monday, Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. said yesterday.

Villar expressed confidence that the second session of Congress will be more productive in terms of legislation given the determination of lawmakers to provide adequate solutions to the country’s pressing socio-economic problems.

At least 25 priority bills are pending approval on second and third reading in the upper chamber.

Villar said he expects the chamber to come up with more legislation that will help ease the impact of the current food and fuel crises in the country.

“Historically, the first regular session of Congress is the period of organization. The second session is usually more productive, so we expect a season of legislative output when session resumes on Monday. With the problems besetting the Filipino people, the Senate will deliver no less,” said Villar.

He said the Senate would also give top priority to the bills on renewable energy, the delineation of the country’s baselines, global warming, and measures to achieve food self-sufficiency.

The Senate will likewise tackle bills creating a special fund for the repatriation of and financial assistance for distressed overseas Filipino workers and the establishment of an OFW hospital, Villar said.

The Senate president said he would press for the increase in the repatriation fund for overseas workers in distress to P1 billion.

He said he had spent his personal money for the repatriation of some overseas workers in distress after noting the inadequate government funding for the purpose.

He also vowed to double the P10-billion calamity fund to assure the fast rehabilitation of regions hit by typhoon “Frank,” particularly Western Visayas.

Other measures in the pipeline are the proposed amendments to the local Cooperative Code and the Consumer Code, a proposed 10-year tax holiday package for overseas Filipino investors, proposed Fishermen and Farmers Subsidies Act, the proposed Fiscal Incentives and Investments Act, and the proposed New Anti-Child Pornography Act.