Senate President Chiz Escudero expressed confidence that the upper chamber will build on its legislative momentum from the 19th Congress as he cited record gains in performance and a renewed commitment to responsive lawmaking when the 20th Congress opens on July 28.
Since the veteran legislator assumed the Senate presidency in May 2024, the chamber has made significant progress in clearing its backlog of pending legislation, while continuing its oversight functions to ensure transparency and accountability in government.
In less than a year–or during the third regular session of the 19th Congress alone–the Escudero-led Senate approved a total of 105 bills on third reading. A total of 213 bills were signed into law during the same period, while another 39 are currently awaiting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s signature.
“In the third regular session alone, we were able to surpass the combined output for the first and second regular sessions.”
“In the third regular session alone, we were able to surpass the combined output for the first and second regular sessions. We could have done even more if not for the close to four-month period that we were adjourned because of the mid-term elections,” the Senate chief said.
From July 2022 to May 2024, during the first and second regular sessions of Congress, only 14 bills were approved on third reading and 73 measures were signed into law.
“Our people deserve no less from their elected officials in the Senate.”
“We wasted no time in moving these very important pieces of legislation toward approval on third reading and enactment into law. These were the result of long hours of work from the senators and their staff and were crafted to benefit a wide range of sectors. Our people deserve no less from their elected officials in the Senate,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
This commitment to legislative productivity is nothing new to the Senate President. In the committees he previously chaired, he maintained a zero backlog, ensuring that all matters referred to him were reported out in full.
After witnessing the Senate’s improved performance in the third regular session of the 19th Congress, Escudero expressed optimism that the chamber will achieve even more during the 20th Congress.
“Bawat isang miyembro ng Senado, buo ang aking tiwala na nasa isip at nasa puso niya ang mataas na interes ng ating bansa at maganda at maayos na kapakanan para sa ating mga kababayan,” he said.
Escudero affirmed that the upper chamber will hit the ground running as it opens the 20th Congress, ready to pursue both administration-endorsed priority measures and the individual advocacies of senators.
Even with the Senate tasked to conduct the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, he assured the public that the chamber will continue its legislative work.
To maintain productivity, Escudero has signaled his preference to hold impeachment proceedings in the morning, allowing the Senate to devote the remainder of the day to its lawmaking functions.
“We owe it to our people to legislate with urgency and purpose. The 20th Congress marks a renewed commitment to champion inclusive progress and institutional integrity,” he concluded.
