The Senate committee on rules chaired by Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri agreed on Monday to let the committees take up bills creating new agencies, including the Department of Overseas Filipinos, despite a conflicting measure to rightsize the government.
In a statement, Zubiri said the committee “came to the conclusion that the bills may be taken up by their respective committees simultaneously.”
“Once the respective committee reports are filed, an all-member caucus will then be called to discuss their prioritization in the legislative calendar for plenary discussion,” he added.
The meeting was called upon a motion made by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon last December, urging the committee to discuss whether there might be a conflict in priorities that may arise between the Rightsizing bill and the bills regarding the creation of new agencies.
“The Senate works through a committee system,” Zubiri explained.
“By practice and tradition, we have long given committees their sole prerogative and discretions regarding matters referred to them. Each committee has its sovereign right to bring out its committee report on a particular measure,” he said.
“As to the prioritization of legislative agenda to be tackled on the floor, it is a matter of policy not explicitly laid down in our rules. Prioritization of legislative agenda is incumbent upon the collective wisdom and discretion of the chamber and its members,” Zubiri added.
“The issues at hand are still at the committee level,” Zubiri said, referring to the bills in question. “At the very least, we cannot determine yet if the committee reports to be filed will be conflicting. We cannot prematurely prevent or control a committee in transacting their affairs.”
“The Committee on Rules does not wish to interfere in whatever way with the committee system at work,” he said.
Zubiri assured the members of the committee: “The Senate is a collegial body with a collective decision. On the priorities of the Senate, we will take this up with an all-member caucus to discuss priorities that will be taken up on the floor.”
Also present in the meeting was Sen. Joel Villanueva, who chairs the labor committee that is handling the bills on the proposed Department of OFWs.
“We laud Sen. Joel Villanueva for really fighting for and being a staunch advocate of the welfare of our Overseas Filipino Workers and for prioritizing and fast-tracking the bills on OFWs referred to his committee,” Zubiri said.
“We will honor the committee system of the Senate,” Zubiri said.
“Always remembering that over everything else, the priority of the Senate is geared toward measures that focus on health, economy, and fiscal discipline,” he said.
Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)
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