CELEBRATING THE SENATE’S 97th ANNIVERSARY. Senate President Franklin M. Drilon addresses Senate officials and employees during the Senate’s flag raising ceremony Monday, October 21. Drilon took the opportunity to thank everyone for what he calls a “selfless act” in deciding to forego plans to celebrate the annual Christmas Party in favor of donating the funds to the victims of recent calamities that struck Visayas and Mindanao. The Senate, which is also celebrating its 97th Anniversary, has also decided to allocate the budget for the anniversary to the victims of the recent 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol and Cebu. (MNS photo)
MANILA, June 18 (Mabuhay) – Senate President Franklin Drilon on Wednesday pushed for the modernization of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) following the swift enactment of the law extending the corporate life of the PNR for another 50 years.
”I hope that a sound and feasible modernization plan for the Philippine railways will soon be legislated by the government,” Drilon said.
Last June 16, President Benigno Aquino III signed Republic Act No. 10638, an act extending the PNR’s corporate life which expires on June 19 this year under R.A. 4156.
Drilon said the rail service, once it is improved, will make a cheaper alternative mode of transportation which could aid in the decongestion of traffic in Metro Manila.
”It is important then for the government to ensure that the PNR continues to be a convenient, dependable and time-saving transit system for our people,” Drilon said.
Drilon lauded the swift approval of the law, one of the 19 measures passed by the Senate during the first regular session of the current 16th Congress.
“I laud the President for acting promptly on this very important legislation which the Congress vigorously pursued despite the issues confronting some of its members with regard to the pork barrel scam controversy,” said Drilon.
The Senate leader said the speedy approval shows that the government acknowledges that rail transit systems still play an “undeniably crucial role in the everyday lives of our citizens.”
“Any stoppage of the rail service will be of huge inconvenience for our commuting public, especially for our countrymen who hail from provinces and have to travel to Metro Manila on a daily basis,” said Drilon.
Meanwhile, Drilon said that he expects more proposed legislation to become law in the coming days such as the Picture-Based Health Warning Act, the amendment to Republic Act No. 7721 or the Act Liberalizing the Entry and Scope of Operations of Foreign Banks in the Philippines, the Philippine Lemon Law, the Free Mobile Alerts Act, and the Act Promoting the Reduction of Poverty Through the Development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, among others. (MNS)
