Senate holds last session for 16th Congress on Monday

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate will hold its last plenary session for the 16th Congress this Monday, the last working day for nine senators whose terms would end.

It has passed 238 laws since the 16th Congress was convened on July 22, 2013.

Senate secretary Oscar Yabes said that Senate President Franklin Drilon is expected to deliver a speech on Monday on the legislative achievements and reforms made by the chamber during the 16th Congress.

Among the laws passed were landmark economic reform measures such as the Philippine Competition Act (Republic Act 10667), the amendments to the Cabotage Law (RA 10668), the amendments to the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (RA 10846), the Right of Way Act (RA 10752) and the Tax Incentives Transparency and Management Act (RA 10708).

The Sandiganbayan Reform Act (RA 10660) was also passed to facilitate the prosecution of public officials engaged in corruption.

To help discourage smoking, there is the Graphic Health Warning Act (RA 10643) that mandates the display of pictures of smoking-related diseases on cigarette packs.

On education, there are laws such as the Iskolar ng Bayan Act (RA 10648) and the United Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Act (RA 10687) to widen opportunities for poor but bright students.

For the improvement of social services there are the Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage for All Senior Citizens (RA 10645) and the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability (RA 10754).

Among the laws that would benefit labor are the P82,000 tax exemption cap for 13th-month pay and other benefits (RA 10653), the Marina Act (RA 10635) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Act (RA 10801).

The Senate also worked to pass new laws for better public services for Filipinos. They include the new Department of Information and Communications Technology or DICT Act of 2015 (RA 10844), the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (RA 10863), the amendments to the Fisheries Code (RA 10654), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration Modernization Act (RA 10692) and the Philippine Lemon Law, which strengthens consumer protection in the purchase of brand-new vehicles (RA 10642).

During the 16th Congress, the Senate also introduced major institutional reforms such as the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or what is more commonly known as the pork barrel fund for lawmakers.

Yabes said that the outgoing senators are expected to deliver their valedictory addresses on Monday.

Those who would end their terms as senators are Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon Revilla Jr., Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Manuel Lapid, Sergio Osmeña III, Teofisto Guingona III, Pia Cayetano and Miriam Defensor-Santiago.