Press Release
April 12, 2009

CARP, EPIRA top Senate agenda

Economic bills and proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) will be among the priority bills of the Senate when it resumes sessions on April 13, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said today.

"We will also prioritize economic bills which will stimulate the economy and those which will provide social safety nets to our people amidst the global economic crisis," he said.

The Majority Leader said some of these economic measures are the Condonation of Delinquent Contributions to SSS, the Simplified Net Income System, the Paglaum Fund bill for the rehabilitation of Panay caused by typhoon Frank last year, and the Mechanization of our Agricultural sector.

He however, said these bills are still in the committee level and are awaiting final committee reports.

Zubiri also said the Senate is also awaiting the bicameral reports on the Pag-IBIG Charter amendment, the Real Estate Investment Companies Act, and the Mt. Banahaw and Mt. Cristobal Protected Areas.

Meanwhile, other bills that are already in the advanced stage and have been tackled in the plenary before Congress went on Lenten recess are the Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law and Picture - based Warnings on Tobacco Products, which are already for Individual Amendments while those under the Period of Interpellations are the Philippine Disaster Risk Management Act, Magna Carta for Homeowners, Legitimation of Children Born to Parents Who are Below Marrying Age, Climate Change Commission Bill and the Committee Report on the Fertilizer Fund Scam, among others.

"We would like to finish as many bills as possible in the 7 weeks of session and before Congress goes on sine die adjournment on June 5. I expect that when the Third Regular Session opens on July 27, there would be election fever already and legislators' focus will be diverted to the 2010 elections," Zubiri said.

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