Senate passes 18 bills amid ‘pork’ scandal

While the public’s attention was fixed on the alleged pork barrel scam, the Senate has passed 18 bills of national scope since it convened last July.

The Senate approved six bills that were enacted into law during the 16th Congress’ first regular session. These bills include the 2014 national budget, the law which postponed the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls, and the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) law.

The number is higher compared to the legislative output of the previous Senate, which passed three laws during the same period.

Nine other bills passed by the Senate are still awaiting President Benigno Aquino III’s approval. These include the graphic health warning bill and the measure requiring telecommunications companies to send free text alerts during disasters.

Aside from these, the Senate was also able to pass four bills on third reading, including the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill. 

‘Blizzard of scandals’

In his speech before session adjourned on Wednesday night, Senate President Franklin Drilon said the chamber was indeed hit by an “unforgiving blizzard of scandals and controversies” during its first regular session.

“We cannot deny that the PDAF [priority development assistance fund] controversy has cast a long, dark shadow over the institution, and we completely understand the people’s outrage,” Drilon said in his speech.

He, however, said the Senate was still able to perform its legislative mandate despite allegations of corruption involving its members.

“Even if the PDAF scandal was constantly hogging the headlines and trending in the social media for months, and despite the severe public beating, the Senate continues to work around the clock, deliberating on bills and crafting measures that would significantly improve the life of our countrymen,” the Senate leader said.

Asked to rate the performance of the current Senate on a scale of 1 to 10, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who is being implicated in the alleged PDAF scam, meanwhile gave it a score of 5.

“The records will speak for itself. You compare it during the time of Senate President [Juan Ponce] Enrile and during Senate President Drilon’s time. You can compare how many bills were passed,” Estrada said in a separate interview.