Senate to prioritize people-focused bills over charter change

Senate President Francis Escudero announced that the Senate will prioritize measures that genuinely benefit the Filipino people and set aside divisive proposals like charter change during the Third Regular Session.

Escudero emphasized a three-point test for prioritizing bills: whether they make life easier for Filipinos, help the country move faster, and lighten the people's burdens.

He stressed the Senate's role as the 'chief common sense officers of the government,' ensuring that all legislative proposals are rational, constitutional, and address stakeholder concerns.

The Senate will scrutinize the proposed 2025 national budget and continue its oversight functions to demonstrate its independence and correct government policies.

Escudero noted that while laws have been passed to ease burdens on big businesses, similar ease has not been provided for commuting, education, healthcare, justice, and food security.

He asserted the Senate's unwavering commitment to defending the country's sovereignty and independence, particularly in the West Philippine Sea, by strengthening the military and passing laws like the Maritime Zone and Sea Lanes Act.

Unlike the House of Representatives, Escudero stated that the Senate focuses on the quality rather than the quantity of laws passed, ensuring they improve the lives of Filipinos.

He called for sobriety and prudence in the Senate, urging colleagues to temper public passions, avoid populism, and prioritize the people's interests over political parties or personal ambitions.

Referencing former Senate President Manuel L. Quezon, Escudero described the Senate's role as representing the serene, mature, and prudent judgment of public opinion, acting as a dam against excessive popular passion.

The Senate aims to bridge social divides and pave a path to prosperity for every Filipino, reframing its work to enact laws that simplify people's lives.

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