Cayetano ends 19th Congress with landmark laws, education push, and call for 'wisdom'

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano capped the 19th Congress with a legislative track record that reflects his priorities on digital governance, disaster preparedness, and education reform, setting the stage for the next half of his Senate term.

Cayetano, who returned to the Senate in 2022, filed a total of 45 bills during the 19th Congress, 28 of which he principally authored. He also sponsored a total of 20 bills on the Senate floor.

Three of these have already been enacted into law, including Republic Act No. 12180 or the PHIVOLCS Modernization Act, which seeks to enhance the agency's capacity to detect seismic activity by upgrading equipment, increasing the number of seismic stations, and improving the salaries and training of personnel.

"This modernization bill is about how we can mitigate disasters, risks, how we can prepare, and how we can also take care of our nature better," Cayetano, who chairs the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, said.

Landmark bills on science and digital governance

- Five more proposed measures Cayetano either authored or sponsored were ratified by Congress before the last session day on June 11 and are now up for the President's signature:

- The Konektadong Pinoy Act, which seeks to open the telecommunications market to more service providers, foster competition, and give consumers better and more affordable internet options;

- The E-Governance Act, which aims to digitalize and streamline government services and transactions;

- The Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, which establishes a regulatory framework for atomic energy;

- The revised charter of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP); and

- The Career Progression System for Public School Teachers and School Leaders Act.

Education reforms

As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, Cayetano pushed forward a slate of education bills, including those upgrading state universities and colleges (SUCs) as well as expanding TESDA centers in underserved areas.

Two of these bills have been enacted into law, while 11 more have been approved by both the House and the Senate on third and final reading.

"Kung hindi ka pinanganak sa mayamang pamilya or you're not born at the right place at the right time, in the richest cities, will you have the same opportunity of finishing college? This is one thing that we want with these bills," he said in one of his sponsorship speeches.

Bridge collapse probe reveals cracks in accountability

Cayetano also filed 20 resolutions, ranging from commendations for nation-builders to calls for Senate action on pressing issues.

Among them was Senate Resolution No. 1322, which triggered the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation into the collapse of the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela.

As sub-committee chair, Cayetano led a series of hearings that uncovered major structural defects and raised broader questions about infrastructure quality and accountability.

"There are glaring loopholes or lapses. For a bridge worth P700-800 million, which increased to more than P1 billion, then bumagsak, kailangan talaga itong tutukan," he said during the last day of session.

"Whoever heads the Blue Ribbon Committee in the next Congress, I hope na susundan 'to," he urged.

Spiritual guidance for the present and next Congress

Cayetano also took the floor during key moments to offer prayers, opening both the first and last regular sessions of the 19th Congress with calls for wisdom and unity.

"Sa pagkakaisa, lahat ay dapat mag-ambag sa [paghanap ng solusyon] sa problema ng sobrang kahirapan, na malabanan ang mataas na presyo, kakulangan ng trabaho, at mababang kita," he said in his 2022 prayer at the start of the Congress.

"In this last day of session of the 19th Congress,... we pray for the next Congress. Help us to know what is important and what is urgent," he prayed on June 11, 2025.

Cayetano, whose term runs until 2028, is expected to continue focusing on education, good governance, values, and economic empowerment in the 20th Congress.

Mga panukala sa digital governance at edukasyon, laman ng track record ni Cayetano sa 19th Congress

Naging produktibo ang 19th Congress ni Senator Alan Peter Cayetano matapos niyang matagumpay na isulong ang kaniyang mga adbokasiya sa digital governance, disaster preparedness, at reporma sa edukasyon.

Simula nang bumalik siya sa Senado noong 2022, nakapaghain si Cayetano ng kabuuang 45 panukalang batas sa 19th Congress. Dalawampu't walo (28) sa mga ito ay siya ang pangunahing may-akda, habang 20 naman ay siya ang nag-sponsor sa plenaryo.

Tatlo sa mga ito ay naisabatas na, kabilang na ang Republic Act No. 12180 o ang PHIVOLCS Modernization Act na layong palakasin ang kakayahan ng ahensya sa pag-detect ng seismic activity sa pamamagitan ng pag-upgrade ng equipment, pagdagdag ng seismic stations, at pagpapataas ng sahod at training ng mga personnel.

"This modernization bill is about how we can mitigate disasters, risks, how we can prepare, and how we can also take care of our nature better," pahayag ni Cayetano, na tagapangulo ng Senate Committee on Science and Technology.

Mahahalagang panukalang pang-agham at digital governance

Bukod sa naisabatas na tatlong panukala, limang iba pa na siya rin ang may-akda o sponsor ay naratipikahan na ng Kongreso bago ang huling araw ng sesyon noong Hunyo 11 at kasalukuyang nasa Office of the President para sa lagda ng Pangulo.

Kabilang dito ang:

- Konektadong Pinoy Act, na layong buksan ang telecom market sa mas maraming service providers, para sa mas mura at maayos na internet access;

- E-Governance Act, na naglalayong gawing digital at mas episyente ang mga serbisyo at transaksyon ng gobyerno;

- Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, na nagtatakda ng regulatory framework para sa paggamit ng atomic energy;

- Revised charter ng Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP); at

- Career Progression System for Public School Teachers and School Leaders Act.

Repormang pang-edukasyon

Bilang Chairperson ng Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, inuna rin ni Cayetano ang pagtulak sa mga panukalang batas para i-upgrade ang mga state universities and colleges (SUCs) at palawakin ang TESDA centers lalo na sa mga lugar na kulang ang access sa technical education.

Dalawa sa mga ito ay naisabatas na, habang 11 pa ang naaprubahan na ng Senado at Kamara sa ikatlo at pinal na pagbasa.

"Kung hindi ka pinanganak sa mayamang pamilya or you're not born at the right place at the right time, in the richest cities, will you have the same opportunity of finishing college? This is one thing that we want with these bills," ani Cayetano sa isa sa kanyang sponsorship speeches.

Katotohanan sa likod ng pagbagsak ng tulay sa Isabela

Nakapaghain din si Cayetano ng 20 resolusyon na kinabibilangan ng pagbibigay parangal sa mga natatanging Pilipino at pagtugon sa mga isyung nangangailangan ng aksyon ng Senado.

Isa sa mga ito ang Senate Resolution No. 1322, na nagsilbing daan sa imbestigasyon ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee sa pagbagsak ng Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge sa Isabela.

Bilang sub-committee chair, pinangunahan ni Cayetano ang serye ng mga pagdinig kung saan natuklasan ang matitinding depekto sa estruktura ng tulay, at nagbukas sa mas malawak na usapin ukol sa kalidad ng mga proyekto at sistema ng Department of Public Works and Highways.

"There are glaring loopholes or lapses. For a bridge worth P700-800 million, which increased to more than P1 billion, then bumagsak, kailangan talaga itong tutukan," ani Cayetano noong huling araw ng sesyon.

"Whoever heads the Blue Ribbon Committee in the next Congress, I hope na susundan 'to," dagdag pa niya.

Panalangin para sa Kongreso

Bukod sa kanyang mga panukala, tumindig din si Cayetano sa mga mahalagang sandali ng sesyon upang mag-alay ng panalangin -- binuksan niya ang unang at huling regular session ng 19th Congress sa pamamagitan ng panawagan para sa pagkakaisa at karunungan.

"Sa pagkakaisa, lahat ay dapat mag-ambag sa [paghanap ng solusyon] sa problema ng sobrang kahirapan, na malabanan ang mataas na presyo, kakulangan ng trabaho, at mababang kita," aniya sa kanyang panalangin noong 2022.

"In this last day of session of the 19th Congress,... we pray for the next Congress. Help us to know what is important and what is urgent," dalangin ni Cayetano sa umpisa ng huling sesyon noong June 11, 2025.

May natitira pang tatlong taon sa termino ni Cayetano, na inaasahang gagamitin niya para ituloy ang kanyang pagtutok sa edukasyon, good governance, values, at kabuhayan sa darating na 20th Congress.