MANILA – Senate President Francis Escudero said divisive measures such as Charter change will not be a priority under his watch as the Senate opened the Third Regular Session of the 19th Congress on Monday.
According to Escudero, the Senate will set aside items which “merely dissipate our energy and divide the public” and will focus on bills “which can effect the same result — but without the needless political noise and bickering.”
“For this same reason, pending bills on Charter change will be placed in the backburner, and will follow the ordinary and regular process of legislation, if at all,” Escudero said.
“This will allow us to focus our energy on measures which the people truly need,” added Escudero, who has been vocal with his stand against modifying the 1987 Constitution.
Escudero said they would tackle items in the common legislative agenda forged with the Executive, and those nurtured by either the House or the Senate.
“We are not mere processors of proposals, but also proponents of them. And the Senate is best when it incubates brave ideas and initiates bold legislation,” Escudero said.
He added: “The Senate focuses on quality, rather than quantity. We legislate only if those existing are no longer sufficient, or if no other solution suffices. This is not a factory that mass produces laws for the sake of showing them on the scoreboard, yet do not, in any way, improve our people’s lives.”
The Senate President likewise emphasized the stability of institutions and the safeguarding of public and private rights as he maintained that the Senate is a chamber of sobriety and prudence.
“We temper the passions of public opinion, and proceed in a rational and deliberate manner. We do not immediately embrace populism that may ultimately harm the people,” Escudero said.
“We shall be a Senate which bridges social divides and builds a path to prosperity for every Filipino. I say that it is time to reframe our work – and pivot to laws that make life easier for our people,” he added./PN
