Press Release
January 27, 2008

Resumption of session Villar looks forward to passage of important bills

The Senate resumes session on Monday after a five-week break to continue its commitment to pass urgently needed measures, Senate President Manny Villar said.

"We are optimistic about approving a number of measures in the list of our priority as we take off from where we left last year," Villar, Nacionalista Party president, said.

The Senate has passed 18 bills since the opening of the First Regular Session of the 14th Congress under Villar's leadership.

These include eight out of the nine priority legislation identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council.

As session resumes, the Senate and the House are expected to approve the bicameral conference committee report of the General Appropriations Act of 2008.

"We are buckling down to legislative work with the same drive and commitment to deliver the much needed legislation to our people," Villar said.

A heated debate on the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement is likewise expected, with the need to balance economic opportunities, environmentalism and adherence to the country's laws.

The Senate also looks forward to the eventual passage of the Cheaper Medicines Act to give underprivileged citizens access to affordable medicines.

Other bills to be taken up are the Anti-Torture Act, the decriminalization of vagrancy, additional financial assistance to police and military who are injured or killed in the line of duty, and the amendment of the Customs Broker Act.

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