Enrile, Loren, Trillanes file Senate's first bills

Signaling the start of the term of office of senators elected in the May polls, the Senate's Legislative Bills and Index Service (LBIS) today started to receive proposed legislative measures for the 15th Congress.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile is the author of Senate Bill 1, a proposal penalizing unfair trade and anti-competitive practices. He also authored Senate Bills 2 and 3, which are measures seeking to reduce the cost of electricity.

Sen. Loren Legarda and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV are also among the first to file bills in the Senate. Legarda's bills, among others, seek to provide basic healthcare for indigent Filipinos (SB 4), amend the Cheaper Medicines Act (SB 5), and promote greening and forestland rehabilitation and protection in the barangay level (SB 6).

Among the bills filed by Trillanes are a bill providing for the right of access to information in government transactions (SB 11), and the establishment of the independent broadcast system (SB 12).

Ma. Antoniette Aristoza, director of the LBIS, said as of 12 noon on Thursday, Senators Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., Lito Lapid, Vicente Sotto III, Edgardo Angara, Miguel Zubiri, Manny Villar, Jinggoy Estrada, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Francis Escudero, Gregorio Honasan, and Sergio Osmena III have filed their proposed bills and resolutions.