The Senate has enacted into law only 14 out of the 1,957 bills filed since the 18th Congress opened in July 2019.
Based on the Statistical Report sent by the Senate to reporters on Tuesday, 1,580 bills were passed during the first regular session, seven in the first special session and 370 in the second regular session.
Among the bills enacted into law by the senators from July 22, 2019 to Dec. 16, 2020, were the Postponement of the Barangay and Sanguniang Kabataan elections, the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and the subsequent Bayanihan To Recover As One Act and GMRC and the Values Education Act.
The other Senate bills enacted into law were the following:
• Malasakit Centers Act
• Salary Standardization Law of 2019
• Excise Tax on Alcohol Products
• National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims
• National Academy of Sports Act
• Bicol Medical Center
• Lengthening of the School Calendar
• Las Pinas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center
• Cagayan Valley Medical Center.
Four measures are also awaiting the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte after being approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
These are the Organic Agriculture Act, the Alternative Learning System Act, the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act and the bill Authorizing the President to Expedite the Processing of Permits.
Both the Senate and the House have also approved the conference committee reports of the National Cooperative Month bill and the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer Act. The measures will then be transmitted to Duterte’s office for approval.
There are also bills that have been approved in the Senate but have yet to be passed in the House:
• Night Shift Differential Pay
• Separate Facility for Heinous Crimes Inmates Act
• National Transportation Safety Board Act
• Teaching Supplies Allowance Act
• Firearms Act
• Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Legal Assistance Fund
• Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute
• Amending Articles 183 and 184 of RA 3815 (Perjury)
• Prohibiting and Declaring Child Marriage as Illegal
• PNP, BFP, BJMP and BuCor Height Equality Act
• Cooperatives Development Officer Act
• Cash Assistance for Filipino Farmers.