MANILA, Philippines— Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva has been assigned “the Senate’s caretaker” beginning Saturday until June 15 during the upper chamber’s session break.
Through Special Order No. 2023-020 (OSP) signed on Thursday, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri designated Villanueva as the senate’s Officer-in-Charge in his absence, according to a Saturday statement.
“Part of our role as Majority Leader is to step up when the leadership calls for it,” Villanueva said.
“Business as usual po tayo dito sa Senado kahit nag-adjourn na po tayo sine die nitong Miyerkules… Hindi po natatapos ang trabaho natin dito sa Senado. Our colleagues have expressed to continue conducting hearings during the break” he added.
This aligns with Senate Resolution No. 21, which gives full authority to all standing, oversight, and special committees of the upper chamber to continue hearings even in its recess, “to have continuity in the process of passing pending proposed legislations and to conduct investigations on issues of National Interests to aid in crafting relevant legislation.”
The Senate passed the following legislations before the sine die adjournment of Congress’ First Regular Session: the Maharlika Investment Fund Act; Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act establishing a National Employment Master Plan; One Town, One Product Philippines Act; Extension of the Period of Availment of the Estate Tax Amnesty; Rationalizing the Disability Pension of Veterans; Institutionalizing the Shared Service Facilities for MSMEs Act; Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act; Regional Specialty Centers Act, and the Disability Pension for Veterans Act.
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