Focus on priority bills

Senator Edgardo J. Angara in a press conference before the Senate media reiterated his call on fellow Senators to complete its agenda on priority bills which include, among others, the Bio-fuels Act, the Anti-Terrorism Bill, the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), the bill on the automation of elections and the bill extending the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF).

He also emphasized that Congress has barely six months left before its adjournment in January.

"We should not be misled into thinking that we have enough time, because those six months are actually only 60 session days. That is all the time we have between now and our adjournment in January. Hence, we really have to focus on what we identified as priority measures so that we will be able to pass them on time," said Angara.

"We have to balance our work between lawmaking, which is our primary job, and the investigative work, which is supportive to our primary role as policymakers," Angara added.

Angara said "the Senate plays a distinctive role. In my long service in the Senate, I know of its great importance. I believe that a second opinion is needed in policymaking, and the Senate provides that invaluable service."

Angara stressed that critics of the Senate should not mislead people of its indispensable role.