On Legislature
I haven’t heard anything from our legislature. One of the reasons could be that the Congress had adjourned sine die last June. The last I’ve heard is about the House Resolution calling for Congress to convene as a constituent assembly, a resolution which earned it share of criticism. That was for the House. As for the Senate, the investigations on different issues like C-5 extension and Kho-Halili scandal, among others, died away with the adjournment of the second regular session.
Interestingly, “campaign” ads of president wanna bes also declined in number. You no longer see or hear Villar’s story and his old and almost wrecked house-apartment in Tondo, not even Roxas’ padyak or traysikad. But it is surprising that the old Senate President Enrile startedto have ads on air. I don’t know his intentions but it sounded very political [he's a politican, for one].
Every one is now waiting on the commencement of the third regular session of the 14th Congress on July 27. In line with the “ConAss” resolution, the House may convene itself as a ConAss and propose amendments to the constitution. This will be a hot issue by that time and I see that many lawyers, politicians, interest groups and parties will swarm the Supreme Court filing petitions. Roxas and his fellows in the Senate will surface again, with garlic garlands I suppose.
Various farmer and peasant groups will push for a different version of the agrarian reform bill. In the last session, the House approved what is called as landlord-leaning CARP bill. Most partylist representative voted against that bill. I see that there will be another battle on the House floor on this matter.
Elections will be a hot issue as well. The national and local elections will be held at the last quarter of the third regular session. And as we know, many Congressmen and women are seeking re-election, if not replaced by his/her father, mother, brother, or sister. Some Senators will vye for another term. Some who lost the midterm elections in 2007 will try their luck again. I see Koko Pimentel running again now that his father is retiring.
Automation of the polls is yet another issue that the legislature would surely touch come the opening of the session. House committee on suffrage had some hearings lately on the issue of TIM’s withdrawal from the contract. Criticisms will surely rain from the upper chamber, where most presidentiables will emanate.
We expect the Congress to pass the appropriations on time. Issues on the appropriations will be highly debated on the floor, particularly the Senate after the C-5 controversy and other controversies in the administration. Elections could be a triggering factor for such stringency and scrutiny.
Lastly, the session will be opened with the address of the president, her last. This will contain the track that the president wants to take in her final year in office, assuming she will finish it. As usual, the address may take up several issues, some controversial, especially the elections is fast approaching.
We are expecting many things from the legislature as the new session commences. More campaign ads. More issues. And more.
