Congress convenes for 2nd regular session

MANILA, Philippines — The 20th Congress convened for its second regular session on Monday morning.

Both chambers opened their morning sessions in their respective buildings but are set to convene at the House of Representatives in the Batasang Pambansa Complex for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address in the afternoon.

During the second regular session, Congress is expected to continue passing priority bills endorsed by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac).

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Of the 52 priority bills, only two have been enacted into law.

These are the rescheduling of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao parliamentary elections and amendments to the National Internal Revenue Code granting Marcos emergency powers amid surging oil prices due to the conflict in Iran.

Pending before a bicameral conference committee are the National Center for Geriatric Health Act, Basic Education Voucher Program Act, Right to Information Act, and the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) Act.

The proposed AICS law was placed in a “deadlock” after the lower chamber expressed reservations over an “anti-epal” provision in the measure agreed upon by senators.

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Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian previously said the upper chamber was already identifying bills at the top of its priority list after its efforts to do so slowed down to accommodate the impeachment trial.

The Senate also underwent two shake-ups in the last few months of the first regular session, leaving several committee memberships on hold.

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Due to this, the Senate has yet to catch up on 20 of the priority bills passed by the House, while also continuing the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

These include the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill, the Travel Tax Abolition Act, and amendments to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Act.

According to House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, the lower chamber has already approved 26 of the 52 bills.

Ready for final approval in the House are a bill declaring a National Thanksgiving Day and a bill amending the Cooperative Code.

However, the House has yet to pass two bills—the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program Act and the Citizen Access and Disclosure Expenditures for National Accountability Act.

Congress is also expected to begin hearings for the 2027 national budget. /mcm