Senate, House clash over pending bills on last session

The 13th Congress on Thursday closed its session without passing a single bill as the Senate blamed the House of Representatives for the legislative fatigue. Senators were dismayed that while the House leadership was able to round up lawmakers for Thursday’s centennial celebration, it failed to do the same for the last session that forced Congress to shelve important legislative measures, such as the bill on affordable medicine. Sen. Manuel Roxas II, chairman of the Senate trade and industry committee, blasted the House for the non-ratification of the Cheaper Medicines Bill. The bill was approved in the bicameral conference committee and was ratified by the Senate. The House, however, failed to get a quorum to pass the measure. The House shot back, blaming Roxas for his opposition to the Lower Chamber’s version imposing price ceiling on medicines. But Roxas said the bill is now “comatose" and the Senate cannot be blamed on the matter. “Only immense political will emanating from the House of Representatives can bring it to life," Roxas said. “The Senate cannot be made a scapegoat for any failure to pass this bill, because we have been simply waiting since Monday for the House version to be passed on third reading." He said the health measure “will perish" simple because the House failed to muster a quorum. “It will be back to square one in July for all of us who have been long advocating for more affordable medicines. I am sure that so many Filipinos, including the sponsors and supporters of this bill in the Lower House and millions of ailing Filipinos, are just as disappointed," he said. Sen. Rodolfo Biazon also complained that congressmen also failed to ratify a bill fixing the term of the AFP chief of staff due to the House was unable to muster a quorum. “It’s back to square one. What we can do now is to refile the bill," he said. Roxas said that for the next Congress to be more productive and cohesive, “I strongly urge the administration not to equate politics with obstruction, or all opposing views with attempts to destabilize those in power." “Let us begin a national dialogue on how politics can scale up our modest economic gains, how we can spread out our still limited progress, how we can deepen and sustain our competitive advantages as a nation," he said. He said legislators in the 14th Congress should focus on addressing the people’s needs first. “For this to succeed, the executive branch must also forego its own biases, and learn to reach out to the new Senate," Roxas said. Senate President Manny Villar said that the Senate has displayed its independence and significance amid the most trying times during the 13th Congress, recognizing his colleagues. In his sine die adjournment speech, Villar said: “The Chamber has remained faithful to its solemn mandate and covenant with the nation." He stressed that the 13th Congress “has been the most trying for the Senate yet the most rewarding," recalling how the independence of the Senate was tested. “Much was done to prevent us from carrying out our oversight functions and even abolish the Senate. We were an endangered institution on the verge of singing our swan song. On both occasions, the Supreme Court served as the forum for our vindication," said Villar. At the same time, Villar said the Senate has been faithful to its primary mission of making laws to address the country’s most vital concerns. “These laws include government funding, its socioeconomic programs and the need to address nagging problems in our educational, agricultural, environmental and health sectors, law and order and electoral reform," he said. The Senate President cited the accomplishment of the Senate during the third regular session: the passage of 169 bills on third reading consisting of 51 bills of national application and 118 bills of local application. Villar praised his fellow senators, staff and the secretariat for their “keen sense of duty and patriotism," which accounted for the record-setting accomplishments of the Senate. - GMANews.TV