Kiko: On the Senate Legislative Agenda

The Senate has been busy expediting measures that will benefit our countrymen since we resumed session on July 24, 2006. 3 major local bills were approved. HBN 884, or the creation of the province of Dinagat Island was approved on August 14, 2006. While the HB4899, An act to include certain parcels of land acquired by accretion as part of the territorial jurisdiction of Sipalay, allowed conversion of the town of Sipalay into a component city to be known as the City of Sipalay. HB 4937 on the other hand empowers Meycauayan Bulacan, after 60 days from its passage, to conduct a plebiscite for its cityhood. The Senates initiative to declare new cities promotes economic and social vitality in provinces, it will create changes even to the social and economic environments of our regions. Creating new cities opens our countryside to global opportunities and regional networks of investments and incentives.

The PSR 472 or the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources was just approved on 2nd reading yesterday. We will hear it on 3rd reading on Monday. Approved on 3rd reading yesterday as well, was the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the UN convention on biological diversity or PSR no 471. These treaties are closely linked to the future of our country and our planet. The sustainable use of our natural resources and the need to develop common practices for its usage is vital if our country is to maintain our biodiversity and biosafety.

We also passed Senate Resolution 540 by Senator Santiago and Pimentel to lend support for the UN Security Council resolution to end the Hezbollah-Lebanon war. The cessation of hostilities in the are is most important to the welfare of more than 30,000 Filipinos and their families, mostly overseas workers, who were caught in the crossfire.