A HOUSE leader expressed concern over the slow progress of the sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE) Bill, which main purpose is to protect every person, regardless of their gender identity, from any form of discrimination.

Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, chairman of the House committee on women and gender equality, said that it seems the SOGIE Bill is not a priority in the Senate following the approval of the second and third reading of more than 17 bills in the last week of session before the break for Holy Week.

“It is sad that there is still no certainty as to when the Senate version of the SOGIE bill will be passed,” Roman said.

More than two decades ago, former Akbayan party-list Representative Etta Rosales and the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago pushed for the first version of the SOGIE bill.

The bill was revived in the 17th Congress, where it was approved by the House of Representatives and reached the Senate through Roman’s strong advocacy for its passage.

However, it was not passed in the Senate even after the end of the session in Congress.

Currently, the Senate Committee on Rules holds the SOGIE bill, where Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva is the committee chairman who first issued a statement on November 17, 2016, in support of the Anti-Discrimination Bill as support for the rights of the LGBTQ sector.

The SOGIE Equality Bill has been pending since it was filed in the Senate in December 2022, but it is already being processed by the technical working group of the House committee.

Roman clarified that the SOGIE Equality Bill does not push for same-sex marriage and clarified that there is nothing in the proposed legislation regarding that issue.

Some of the latest proposals that have been approved by the Senate on the second and third reading include the strengthening and protection of the country’s cultural heritage, the one town, one product bill, and the no permit, no exam prohibition bill.

However, in previous statement, Roman remains confident that Congress will pass the SOGIE Bill.

“I believe malaki ang puso ng aking mga kasamahan sa Kongreso. Kaya natin ipasa ito,” she added.

The solon also expressed confidence that the measure will secure the approval of the House, noting that many members of the Lower Chamber are willing to support and fight for the approval of the bill.