Press Release
February 20, 2007

VILLAR: THE SENATE HAS LEAD ROLE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Constructive opposition is the key to national progress

Senate President and Nacionalista President Manny Villar believes that the Senate can lead the way in the countrys progress particularly in economic development through its legislative role and performance.

According to Villar, There are those who say that the Senate is a stumbling block in the progress because all it does is conduct investigations and inquiries. But I saw and discovered that the Senate can in fact be at the forefront of strengthening the economy.

Last year, we have proven that we can perform all our functionsconducting public investigations and exposing anomalies, at the same time enacting laws. We have set a record performance of passing on third reading 109 bills and we have approved 54 more bills during the 1st day of the special session yesterday ( Feb. 19), cites Villar.

Villar further cites that the present Senates performance is the best ever in the last decade or so. Our round-the-clock sessions bore fruit, I am happy to say that the number of bills we have approved is four times higher than what is normally passed in the Senate. On the average, 40 bills are passed in the Senate in one year. We passed 163 since July last year only, adds Villar.

As for his legislative agenda, Villar says he will continue his advocacies such as housing and livelihood and focus on bills that would help improve the countrys economy. I have always said that I can help in the field of economic development. That is my line of expertise. I also would like to emphasize that not because I am aligned with the opposition as its guest candidate, I will railroad the bills supported by the administration. I am not like that.

Villar further cites, In fact, even if I am somewhat critical of the President, we have passed all the bills that she has certified as priority. This is because of my intention to help the economy. I am for constructive opposition. I dont want to pick fight with Malacañang , the Lower House, the Judiciary or the Armed Forces of the Philippines . In fact, I want these institutions to work together for our economy to move forward. Even during the campaign period, Villar believes that even sectors or camps with different points of view or agenda can cooperate for the common good. This is no different with the national and local candidates. While the national candidates cannot really do much help in the local and its normally the local candidates that can help the national. But then again, collaboration and cooperation normally exist between the two.

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