By Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel and Erika Mae P. Sinaking, Reporter
SEVERAL of the 52 priority measures identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) have stalled within the Senate, after three weeks of turmoil within the chamber disrupted the federal government’s legislative agenda.
Analysts said this may very well be remedied through the conduct of a special session, which may even allow President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to project a more coordinated government ahead of his State of the Nation Address (SONA), though the move also carries political risks if mishandled.
In the most recent Statistical Report on Bills and Resolutions Filed and Acted Upon by the Senate, only 10 out of the 21 LEDAC priority measures have progressed within the Chamber, with six pending on second reading, three pending before the House of Representatives (HoR), and one measure, the Resetting the First Regular Elections within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region In Muslim Mindanao, enacted.
Except for the 21 priority measures, the LEDAC has also listed 31 remaining common legislative agenda, as of Feb. 10, including amendments to the Biofuels Act, General Tax Amnesty, Digital Payments Act, Blue Economy Act, and Excise Tax on Single-Use Plastics which the Senate has yet to approve.
The six LEDAC priority measures pending second reading within 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 Anti-Political Dynasty Act.
The HoR on Wednesday passed on third and final reading their version of the anti-dynasty bill.
University of the East political science professor Eric Daniel C. de Torres attributed the delays within the passage of the measures on the Senate’s end to the chaos that transpired since May 11, marked by two leadership changes, a shootout, and arrest of a lawmaker.
He noted the brand new majority bloc, led by Senate President Pro Tempore and Acting Senate President Sherwin T. Gatchalian, could have taken up measures on June 3 before adjourning the session sine die.
“They’ve a quorum, as they perceive it [they] are the ‘latest majority’ but why is it [that] they didn’t act on the work at hand as a substitute [of] declaring adjourned sine die?” Mr. de Torres said via Messenger chat.
For the reason that session resumption in May, the Senate passed two LEDAC-listed bills akin to the Philippine Geriatric Center Act and Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, alongside the Basic Education Voucher Program Act, all pending deliberation before the bicameral conference committee.
In keeping with the Senate’s report, 11 priority measures have yet to be acted upon by the chamber, namely the Amendments to the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act, Amendments to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Act, Amendments to the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act, amendments to the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act, Waste-to-Energy Bill / Waste Treatment Technology Act, Amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act — Energy Regulatory Commission Strengthening Bill, Amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law / Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment Act, Department of Water Resources Bill, Estate Tax Amnesty, Travel Tax Abolition, and Anti-Fake News and Disinformation Act.
SPECIAL SESSION
Before requesting the president to call for a special session, Mr. de Torres said the chamber must also first settle the leadership dispute and determine the LEDAC measures to be taken up.
Mr. Marcos’ openness to calling a special session of Congress could provide a chance to revive stalled legislative priorities, Carl Marc L. Ramota, a professor on the University of the Philippines Manila’s Department of Social Sciences, said.
“Calling a special session could help address legislative paralysis and save whatever is left of the President’s legislative agenda, including pushing for the passage of crucial economic relief bills,” he told BusinessWorld via a Facebook chat.
The Palace last week said Mr. Marcos is inclined to convene a special session should there be a proper request and sufficient justification.
Admin-backed Mr. Gatchalian said they’re discussing the potential for conducting a special session to tackle pending bills stalled by the Senate power struggle.
Analysts said the leadership row has contributed to disruptions in quorum and slowed down regular legislative activity, hindering the passage of urgent measures akin to oil price relief initiatives, supplemental budget items, and the confirmation of pending military promotions.
Mr. Ramota said a successful special session could redirect public attention away from criticisms of presidency inaction but warned that the move could backfire if political divisions in Congress turn out to be more visible.
“If rival factions boycott the session, disrupt the quorum, or turn it right into a political spectacle, because it already is, the administration will appear weak and lack control,” he said.
Mr. Ramota added that while the President has the authority to limit a special session to specific agenda items, failure to take decisive motion could reinforce perceptions that the administration is entering a “lame-duck” phase despite having several years remaining in office.
Under the law, the President may call Congress to a special session at any time, allowing the Senate and House of Representatives to convene during recess or adjournment.
The mechanism is meant to handle urgent national concerns, expedite priority laws, or resolve critical bottlenecks within the lawmaking process.
Hansley A. Juliano, a political science lecturer on the Ateneo de Manila University, said energy security issues would likely provide the strongest and least divisive justification for a special session.
He said that a clearly defined and urgent agenda could be essential to avoid perceptions of arbitrariness and to make sure that the exercise translates into meaningful legislative output.
“Just announce what the agenda is; a definite announcement should make it look more serious and decisive,” he said. “Calling these before SONA would emphasize need for reestablishing a more coordinated (Executive-Legislative) front to persuade the general public they’re working.”
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like they’re still, especially since we now have not been in a position to discipline the Duterte bloc senators,” he added.
The administration may view a special session as a chance to shape the political narrative ahead of the President’s annual state address, in accordance with Voltaire Bohol, president of the August Twenty-One Movement.
“Attempting to frame the special session to suit their narrative may very well be something they’re planning especially since each time SONA comes, the Marcos admin have a tough time attempting to report any positive thing they did within the last 12 months or so,” he said via a Viber chat.
He said that public frustration over economic conditions and the federal government’s handling of the fuel situation could factor into perceptions of the move.
On the role of Congress, Mr. Bohol said a legislative initiative to convene a special session would carry greater political credibility than one perceived as purely executive-driven, as it will signal stronger internal consensus amongst lawmakers looking for to interrupt the impasse.