Senate to pass economic bills before Undas

MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Franklin Drilon said yesterday he remains optimistic over the passage of vital economic measures that will further boost the economy.

Drilon said he and his colleagues intend to maximize the time until month’s end to make progress on its growing list of legislative agenda before congressional sessions adjourn for the All Saints’ Day break on Oct. 29.

Drilon said senators were expected to start the week by passing on third and final reading Senate Bill (SB) 2042, which prohibits “the development, production, stockpiling, use of chemical weapons, and providing for their destruction,” in order to safeguard the country from the threats and hazards of chemical weapons.

He also expects significant progress on the Senate’s version of the Fair Competition Act, or SB 2282, after senators finished introducing amendments to the measure.

Drilon explained that the Fair Competition Act was part of a package of priority economic measures which Congress would pass within next year, in order to improve the Philippine’s business climate, boost investment and ensure macroeconomic and fiscal sustainability in time for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Economic Community meet in 2015.

Senators are also ready to introduce amendments to SB 2400, which establishes the Sugarcane Industry Development Fund. 

Other Senate measures in advanced stages of legislation include pro-labor bills such as SB 29, or the Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 2013; SB 161, which provides security of tenure for all casual and contractual government employees who have rendered the prescribed years of service; SB 12, which provides retirement benefits to barangay officials, health, and day care workers; and SB 1386, or the amendments to the Public Employment Service Office Act of 1999.

The Senate will also resume plenary debates on SB 2269, or the amendments to the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program.

The bill seeks to amend an existing provision in the AFP Modernization Program that will allow the country to purchase major equipment or weapons systems, so long as they are also used by the armed forces of the equipment’s country of origin, or by the armed forces of at least one country. – With Edith Regalado