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Senators eye passage of more 'pro-people' bills next session

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Sherrie Ann Torres, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — A proposed measure that seeks to impose a P150 across-the-board daily minimum wage in the private sector will be among the Senate&#x27;s priorities in the Second Regular Session, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Friday.Zubiri was referring to his penned Senate Bill 2002 which aims to increase by P150 per day the current P570 daily wage of workers in Metro Manila and other workers nationwide. Zubiri’s target comes after the Regional Wage Board’s recent approval of a P40 wage adjustment for National Capital Region (NCR) workers, and opposition from the business sector to his proposed measure.“Given the urgency of the situation, a legislated wage increase is called for [to] ease the effect of wage erosion brought about by inflation... to cover food, water, fuel, electricity, clothing, transportation, rent, communications and other personal needs,” Zubiri stated in his bill.Congress will aim to pass the wage hike bill along with the 20 “priority measures” identified during the July 5 LEDAC meeting before lawmakers go on Christmas break in December, the Senate leader said.These measures include the Center for Disease Control Bill, Amendments to BOT/PPP Law, Internet Transactions Act, Mandatory ROTC bill, Revitalizing the Salt Industry, the Ease of Paying Taxes, New Philippine Passport Act and Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers.The Committee Report for the Waste to Energy bill will also be tackled on the floor, he said. “Aside from these measures, I will also be pushing for the passage of the Minimum Wage Hike bill,” Zubiri told ABS-CBN News.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/05/23/senate-proposes-9-new-bills-to-be-categorized-as-priority-measures">Senate proposes 9 new bills to be categorized as &#x27;priority&#x27; measures</a></li></ul>Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, meanwhile, will push for the immediate passage of the PENCAS (Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital) and the Blue Economy bills, in a bid to immediately address the ill effects of climate change.“The PENCAS aims to provide a true, complete, and accurate report of the state of the development and economic performance of the Philippines... Government planners will be able to fully understand the natural capital available and expendable in the pursuit of national goals,” Legarda said.“Meanwhile, the Blue Economy bill aims to protect our oceans and coasts and enhance its potential contribution to sustainable development. As one of the longest coastlines in the world, the Philippines would greatly benefit if it sustainably utilizes its marine resources... Protecting and safeguarding our environment goes hand in hand with economic development,” she added.For Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Congress must prioritize measures that directly address the needs of the people, like those seeking expanded maternity leave for women in the informal sector, attention on the issue of teenage pregnancy, and raising the P500 monthly social pension for the elderly to P1,500. “Increasing the amount of social pension for the elderly would also narrow the pension coverage gap as neighboring countries such as Thailand, Brunei, Timor-Leste and Vietnam are currently implementing similar tax-financed schemes to cover all citizens of a specified age,” Hontiveros told ABS-CBN News.“I continue to press the importance of passing a comprehensive anti-teenage pregnancy measure while pregnancies among 10 to 14 year olds continue to rise... Teenage pregnancy has been a ‘silent epidemic’ for several years already with generational consequences,” she added.Meanwhile, Sen. Robin Padilla said his recent defeat in getting the support of the majority for his charter change advocacy would not deter him from advocating for bills that seek “political reforms in the country.”Padilla said he would also seek the enactment of his proposed Medical Cannabis Act.“Desisyon at karapatan ng tao kung Ano ang gusto niyang alternatibong gamot sa kanyang karamdaman,” Padilla said.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/01/23/6-out-of-42-priorities-finished-congress-leaders-tout-approvals">Finishing only 6 of 42 LEDAC priorities, Senate and House leaders tout approvals in 1st year</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/05/23/marcos-to-sign-maharlika-fund-before-sona-ledac-identifies-priority-bills">Marcos to sign Maharlika Fund before SONA, LEDAC identifies priority bills</a></li></ul><div>RELATED VIDEO: </div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kP0Qea68qSU?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

The proposed measure that seeks to impose a P150 across-the-board daily minimum wage in the private sector will be among the Senate's priorities.

Senators eye passage of more 'pro-people' bills next session

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Senators eye passage of more 'pro-people' bills next session

Sherrie Ann Torres,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 14, 2023 02:53 PM PHT

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Senate

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Senate President

Juan Miguel Zubiri

Migz Zubiri

Legarda

Loren Legarda

priority bills

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