Minority leader backs House, Senate common legislative agenda

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – Without prejudice to his role as fiscalizer, House minority leader Joseph Stephen Paduano vowed to support the priority legislative measures of the 18th Congress.

In a statement, Paduano said he expects a smooth-sailing relationship between the House of Representatives and Senate after its leaders had met in an informal caucus at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong Thursday.

“We will cooperate with the House leadership while we continue to perform as fiscalizers of the initiatives of the majority,” he explained.

Paduano clarified that the minority will maintain their critical cooperation with the leadership of House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, especially on the passage of urgent legislative measures aimed at alleviating poverty and addressing socio-economic woes brought about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

He revealed that the House and Senate leadership had earlier agreed to put forward a common legislative agenda that will streamline the legislative process and ensure speedy and efficient lawmaking.

He pointed out that “per agreement, the minority will submit its own list of priority measures which may be included in the common agenda”.

The common agenda is a consolidated list of the priority legislations as identified by both houses, he emphasized.

He stressed that “cooperation” is imperative between the two houses of Congress as stated in Article 6, Section 1 of the Constitution.

Paduano was among the congressional leaders who attended the caucus initiated by Velasco.

Also at the caucus were Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Senate committee on finance chair Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez and House committee on appropriations chair Eric Yap

Both Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri and Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also joined the activity via Zoom.