Villanueva assigned Senate caretaker for next 2 weeks
SENATE Majority Leader Joel Villanueva has been assigned as the Senate’s caretaker for the next two weeks during the session break.
According to Special Order No. 2023-020 (OSP) signed on June 1, 2023, Villanueva has been designated by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri as Officer-In-Charge of the Senate of the Philippines from June 3 to 15, 2023 in lieu of the Senate President’s absence.
“Part of our role as Majority Leader is to step up when the leadership calls for it,” Villanueva said.
Villanueva’s designation is pursuant to Rule IV of the Rules of the Senate where “in the case of the temporary absence of the Senate President or the Senate President Pro-Tempore, the Majority Leader or in his absence, any of the two Deputy Majority Leaders, or any member designated by the President shall discharge the powers and duties of the President.”
“Business as usual po tayo dito sa Senado kahit nag-adjourn na po tayo sine die nitong Miyerkules,” Villanueva said.
“Hindi po natatapos ang trabaho natin dito sa Senado. Our colleagues have expressed to continue conducting hearings during the break,” he added.
Adopted Senate Resolution No. 21 gives full authority to “all regular standing committees oversight committees and special committees of the Senate to conduct hearings, meetings and consultations during every recess of the Senate to have continuity in the process of passing pending proposed legislations and to conduct investigations on issues of National Interests to aid in crafting relevant legislation.”
Before the sine die adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 19th Congress, the Senate was able to pass landmark legislations such as Villanueva’s pet bill Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act establishing a National Employment Master Plan, One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Act, Extension of the Period of Availment of the Estate Tax Amnesty, Rationalizing the Disability Pension of Veterans, Institutionalizing the Shared Service Facilities for MSMEs Act, Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, Regional Specialty Centers Act, Disability Pension for Veterans Act, and the Maharlika Investment Fund Act.
At the last session day of the First Regular Session, Senate President Zubiri highlights the accomplishments of the Upper Chamber, saying that the body responded to the needs of the people and the challenges of the times.
In his closing speech before the Senate adjourns sine die, Wednesday, May 31, 2023, Zubiri emphasized that it is only through “hard work and high purpose” that the body approved 31 landmark bills and more than 70 resolutions in the first year of the 19th Congress.
“While this scoreboard shows the quantity of our input, it cannot even begin to describe the quality of each. True to our tradition, we do not agree to proposals without discussion, nor embrace ideas without debate,” the Senate chief said.
Zubiri also expressed his gratitude to all of his colleagues, recognizing that each member has properly accomplished his or her part in honoring their mandate. “We will return with high-impact legislation. When we meet again in this hall, let it be with greater determination and a renewed commitment to perform the duties that the Republic and our people expect us to,” Zubiri added.
