Press Release
October 2, 2007

AMONG FOUR BILLS PASSED:
Senate passes Cheaper Medicines Act on second reading

The Senate passed on second reading a bill seeking to lower the prices of medicines in the country.

The measure entitled, "An Act to provide for quality affordable medicines," is a consolidation of bills filed by Sens. Mar Roxas, Antonio Trillanes IV, Pia Companera Cayetano, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Loren Legarda, Lito Lapid, Juan Ponce Enrile and Senate President Manny Villar.

Amid its investigations, the Senate also passed at least three bills included in its list of priority measures yesterday.

Passed on third reading was a bill that seeks to strengthen the Philippine judiciary by giving additional retirement benefits to justices and judges across the country.

The Upper Chamber also passed two measures on second reading: (1) rules and regulations in the presentation of suspects in press conferences, and (2) a bill granting good conduct time allowance to deserving prisoners.

The farmers' bill or the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund extension and the Entrepreneurs Act have also been sponsored, Villar said.

"I acknowledge the sheer determination and commitment of my colleagues in fasttracking the passage of these important measures to benefit our countrymen," the Senate President said.

"Such accomplishments are made in the midst of a number of equally important Senate investigations on issues of national importance and parallel hearings on the budget," Villar, Nacionalista Party president, emphasized.

Various committees have submitted their reports on the Veterans bill, the Anti-Cellular Phone Theft Act, the amendment to the Child Pornography Law, and the three-year term for AFP chief of staff. The bills are expected to pass in the Senate before the adjournment of session.

Also to be filed are the committee reports on the Personal Equity Retirement Act, Credit Information Bureau, the Anti-Stalking bill, and the creation of the Commission on Missing Persons.

"As I have said, normally, the Senate, during the First Regular Session, is unable to pass bills, but at this time we have already passed four bills and we hope to increase this number," said the Senate President.

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