MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged senators to end legislative impasse and resume plenary work, warning that the prolonged disruption in the Senate is undermining governance and threatening the passage of key priority measures before Congress adjourns.
Speaking to reporters in Manila after attending the turnover of financial assistance under the Socio-Civic Projects Fund and meeting with presidential scholars, Marcos expressed frustration over the continued absence of members of the Senate majority bloc, which has repeatedly prevented the chamber from conducting regular legislative business.
“Get back to work. Get back to work because it’s important, ang dami nating kailangang gawin,” Marcos said.
The President said the weeks-long standoff has thrown the Senate into disarray and damaged public confidence in its leadership at a time when crucial legislation remains pending.
“I’m afraid whatever all these events that we have been witnessing has thrown the Senate and its leadership, the whole Senate, into disarray. It has discredited the leadership. It stopped the essential business of legislation in government,” he added.
Marcos questioned why the legislative branch had allowed its work to grind to a halt while other branches of government continued to perform their duties.
“Why does the legislature decide to stop working? I don’t understand that,” he said.
The Palace had earlier raised concerns that the prolonged tensions within the Senate could derail several administration-backed measures endorsed by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) before the close of the first regular session of Congress this week.
Among the priority bills awaiting action are the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act, the Independent People’s Commission Act, the Travel Tax Abolition measure, and the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act.
The Senate has been beset by internal disputes in recent weeks, resulting in repeated disruptions of sessions and raising questions about the chamber’s ability to pass pending legislation before the current session adjourns.
Marcos emphasized that lawmakers must put aside political differences and return to their constitutional duty of crafting laws and addressing pressing national concerns.
The Senate deadlock comes as the administration pushes for the passage of several reform measures, with only a limited number of session days remaining before Congress temporarily adjourns./PN
