Marcos Led Enactment of Key Measures for Youth, Brgy Officials,
Fallen Policemen, OFWs and Muslim Mindanao in 2015

2015 marked another milestone for Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in the 16th Congress as he led key measures that empowered the youth, brought national attention to the plight of Barangay Officials, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), Muslim-Filipinos in Mindanao, and Policemen killed in the line of duty.

Marcos was instrumental in the passage of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Reform Law as he authored and sponsored bills as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government. The law gives more participatory power to the youth in nation-building.

Recognizing the need for the financial security of barangay officials and workers including day care personnel, Marcos also authored and sponsored a bill that will give them retirement benefits.

Known as Senate Bill No. 12, under Committee Report No. 31, the bill entitled, "An Act Providing Barangay Officials, Including Barangay Tanods, Members of the Lupon ng Tagapamayapa, Barangay Health Workers and Day Care Workers Retirement Benefits" sought to give Punong Barangays Php 100,000 in retirement benefits, Sangguniang Barangay Member Php 80,000; Barangay Treasurer and Secretary, a Barangay Tanod, a Member of the Lupon ng Tagapamayapa, a Barangay Health Workers, and a Barangay Day Care Worker Php 50,000.

The said bill has been approved on third and final reading.

Marcos again showed his mettle and independence when he rejected the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, or BBL, submitted by Malacañang for approval, and instead, he crafted a substitute bill entitled "Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region" or Senate Bill No. 2894.

As of December 2015, Marcos was defending the bill during the interpellation period as Senators lined up and enlisted themselves to ask questions about the measure.

In the Senate investigation of the infamous "Mamasapano Massacre," Marcos took the cudgels for the 44 Special Action Force policemen who were killed by members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and other private armed groups in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25, 2015.

He zeroed in on the breach of the Chain of Command as he called on President Benigno Aquino III to apologize over their deaths as Commander-in-Chief of the Police and the Military.

Marcos also quizzed officials of the Bureau of Customs on their plan to open the balikbayan boxes of OFWs, which he considered as insensitive through his incisive questioning during the Senate probe on the issue. As a result, Customs Chief Alberto Lina was pressured to make a public apology to our OFWs and decided not to push through with the plan.

He showed yet further compassion for the OFWs when he reprimanded airport officials for the "Tanim-Bala" extortion racket at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by corrupt airport personnel.

Six months before the 16th Congress ended, Marcos has already compiled a total of 66 bills- 57 authored and 9 co-authored. In addition, he has a total of 64 resolutions- 21 authored and 43 co-authored. Eleven of these bills were enacted into laws while 43 of the resolutions were adopted.

He sponsored a total 78 bills that he authored in the 16th Congress.