Senate leaders laud each other

Maybe they just want to give themselves a pat on the back when no one else seems to think they deserve it.

In separate resolutions, Senate leaders have congratulated each other for the accomplishments of the chamber in the first regular session of the 14th Congress.

Commendations and tributes for senators are normally given when they are about to graduate from the chamber or when they die. But this batch decided not to wait.

Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan filed Resolution Nos. 443 and 440 commending Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., respectively, while Villar authored Resolution No. 442 for Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, who in turn lauded Pangilinan under Resolution No. 441.

The senators gave one another a salute for basically doing their jobs, for passing bills and participating in investigations.

Senators Loren Legarda and Edgardo Angara likewise issued statements enumerating the bills they authored or co-authored, which were adopted by the Senate and/or Congress.

In his resolutions, Pangilinan praised Villar for his “objectivity and impartiality” as a leader, for setting an agenda for the Senate that was responsive to the people’s needs.

In his resolution, Pangilinan noted Pimentel’s incisiveness in debates and plenary deliberations and his ability to transform complex domestic and foreign policy issues and controversies into language easily understood by Filipinos.

Villar, for his part, commended Estrada for his hard work in performing his duties, particularly in assisting the Senate chief in presiding over the deliberations and proceedings of the Senate.

Estrada cited Pangilinan for skillfully steering plenary deliberations and the passage of bills according to the agenda that the Senate set during the first regular session.

In an earlier statement, Villar said the Senate approved a record number of more than 30 bills on second and third reading before the Congress’ sine die adjournment on June 11.

He said this was highlighted by eight measures that would help uplift the plight of the Filipino masses during these difficult economic times.

Villar said he was proud of his chamber’s accomplishments, which should put to rest criticism that the Senate has reneged on its lawmaking functions in favor of oversight congressional investigations on allegations of fraud and corruption in government.

“We will continue to give priority to the passage of bills that would benefit the Filipino masses, particularly the poor. This is an outstanding accomplishment considering that in the past, most bills were not approved in the first regular session of Congress,” he said. Congress has three regular sessions.

Villar said that in the first regular session of the 12th Congress, the Senate passed 16 bills in third and second reading. In the first regular session of the 13th Congress, only eight bills were approved.

The Senate president likewise commended his colleagues for the fortitude and commitment they displayed amid numerous Senate investigations in connection with questionable transactions by the executive branch.

He noted that from July 2007 to May 31 this year, the Senate and its various committees conducted a total of 342 public hearings, 22 of which were related to the oversight functions of Congress to investigate allegations of graft and corruption in government.

The eight pro-poor bills passed on third reading were: Republic Act 9501 (Senate Bill 1646) that seeks to promote entrepreneurship; SB 1662 that provides for additional benefits and protection to housekeepers (kasambahay); SB 1882 establishing a Provident Personal Savings Plan, known as the Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) to promote capital market development and savings mobilization; SB 1648 that seeks to provide funds for irrigation, farm-to-market roads, post-harvest equipment, and other farming facilities; RA 9499 (SB 1659) allowing Filipino World War II veterans to continue receiving pensions and benefits even when similar pensions and benefits are provided by the US government; SB 2293 which amends Sections 22, 24, 34, 35, 51 and 79 of Republic Act 8424, as amended, otherwise known as the National Revenue Code of 1997, and seeks to increase the take-home pay of minimum wage earners by providing them more tax exemptions; SB 2408 that provides for additional support and compensation for educators; and RA 9502 (SB 1658) that seeks to provide quality affordable medicine.