By Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel again Erika Mae P. Sinaking, A reporter
Most of the 52 priority MEASURES identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) have stalled in the Senate, three weeks after the chaos that disrupted the government’s legislative process.
Analysts say this could be resolved by conducting a special session, which will also allow President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to form a coalition government before his State of the Union Address (SONA), although this step also has political risks if not managed properly.
In the latest Statistical Report on Bills and Resolutions Introduced and Acted by the Senate, only 10 of the 21 measures of the LEDAC have progressed in the Chamber, pending second reading, three are still pending before the House of Representatives (HoR), and one measure, Resetting the First General Election in Auto Bangnaoro Village, Auto Bangnaoro Region.
Besides the 21 important measures, LEDAC also listed the remaining 31 general legislative agenda, as of February 10, including amendments to the Biofuels Law, General Tax Amnesty, Digital Payments Act, Blue Economy Act, and Excise Tax on Single-Use Plastics which the Senate has not yet approved.
The six key measures of LEDAC that are awaiting the second reading in the Senate are the Expanded Anti-OSAEC And Anti-CSAEM Act, Party-List Reform Act, Independent People’s Commission Act, Banking Reform for Integrity, Good Governance, Honesty, And Transparency Act, People’s Freedom Of Information Act, and the Law Against Political Monarchy.
On Wednesday the HoR passed the third and final reading of its version of the anti-monarchy bill.
Eastern University political science professor Eric Daniel C. de Torres says the delay in the passage of the Senate’s end measures is due to the chaos that has emerged since May 11, marked by two leadership changes, shootings, and the arrest of a representative.
He noted that the new majority group, led by Senate President Pro Tempore and Acting Senate President Sherwin T. Gatchalian, could have taken action on June 3 before adjourning the sine die session.
“They have a quorum, as they see it [they] it is ‘new majority’ but why is that [that] instead they did not do the work they were doing [of] announcing that the sine has been postponed?” Mr de Torres said in a news interview.
Since the session resumed in May, the Senate has passed two bills on LEDAC’s list such as the Philippine Geriatric Center Act and the International Access to Quality Higher Education Act, along with the Basic Education Voucher Program Act, all pending deliberations before the bicameral congressional committee.
According to the Senate report, 11 important steps have yet to be taken by the agency, which are amendments to the Coconut Farmers and Industries Fund Fund Act, Amendments to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Act, Amendments to the Masustansyang Pagkinan Para sa Batang Pilipino Act, amendments to the Student Assistance Act, and Teacher Assistance and Student Assistance Act. Waste / Waste Treatment Technology Act, Amendments to the Electricity Industry Reform Act — Energy Regulatory Commission Strengthening Bill, Amendments to the Rice Excise Duty Act / Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment Act, Water Resources Ministry Bill, Property Tax Amnesty, Travel Tax Abolition, and Anti-Fraud and Fake News Act.
SPECIAL SESSION
Before asking the president to call a special council, Mr. de Torres said the meeting must first resolve the leadership dispute and then decide the steps to be taken by LEDAC.
The openness of Mr. Marcos calling a special session of Congress could provide an opportunity to revive important legislative priorities, said Carl Marc L. Ramota, a professor in the Department of Social Sciences at the University of the Philippines Manila.
“Calling a special session would help resolve the legislative impasse and save whatever is left of the President’s legislative agenda, including forcing the passage of important economic relief bills,” he said. BusinessWorld via Facebook chat.
The palace last week said Mr. Marcos is inclined to call a special session if there is a legitimate request and sufficient reasons.
Mr. Gatchalian who is supported by Admin said they are discussing the possibility of having a special session to deal with the bills that are still stalled by the power struggle in the Senate.
Analysts said the leadership row contributed to quorum disruption and slowed down the normal legislative work, preventing the passage of emergency measures such as plans to reduce oil prices, additional budget items, and the confirmation of pending military increases.
Mr. Ramota said a successful special session could redirect public attention to criticism of government inaction but warned the move could backfire if political divisions in Congress become more visible.
“If the opposing parties boycott the session, disrupt the quorum, or make a political spectacle, as is the case, the administration will appear weak and out of control,” he said.
Mr. Ramota added that although the President has the authority to limit the special session to certain items on the agenda, failure to take decisive action could reinforce the perception that the administration is entering the category of “paralysis” despite the few years left in office.
Under the law, the President can call Congress into special session at any time, allowing the Senate and House of Representatives to meet during recess or adjournment.
The methodology is intended to address urgent national concerns, expedite important legislation, or resolve critical issues in the legislative process.
Hansley A. Juliano, a political science lecturer at Ateneo de Manila University, said issues of energy security may provide stronger and less divisive reasons for a special session.
He said a clearly defined and urgent agenda would be essential to avoid perceptions of bias and to ensure that work translates into meaningful legislative outcomes.
“Just announce what the agenda is; a definitive announcement should make it look serious and decisive,” he said. “Calling this before SONA will emphasize the need to re-establish a united body (of the Legislature) so that the public can believe that they are working.”
“Unfortunately, it does not look like they are still there, especially since we have not been able to discipline the Duterte bloc senators,” he added.
The administration may look at the special session as an opportunity to shape the political narrative before the President’s annual speech, according to Voltaire Bohol, president of the August Twenty-One Movement.
“Trying to organize a special session to match their narrative could be something they are planning especially since every time SONA comes, the Marcos administration has a hard time trying to report any good thing they have done in the last year or so,” he said in a Viber chat.
He said that the public’s frustration with the state of the economy and the way the government is handling the fuel situation could be the cause of the opinions on this action.
Regarding the role of Congress, Mr. Bohol said the legislative move to call a special session would have more political credibility than what is believed to be being driven by officials, as it would show a strong internal consensus among lawmakers who want to end the conflict.
