‘Graduating’ senators bid goodbye

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate of the 18th Congress adjourned sine die yesterday, with the leadership expressing satisfaction with the chamber’s accomplishments, particularly on legislation that helped the country survive the pandemic, and outgoing senators giving advice to neophyte lawmakers.

Senate President Vicen-te Sotto III bid goodbye to his colleagues after being in the chamber since 1992, and thanked God for helping him discharge his duties that allowed him to chalk up legislative accomplishments “not only to my grandkids but to the younger generations, proud and guilt-free that I have not abused my position to enrich myself or any member of my family. I have kept my credibility intact and my name, unsullied.”

“Throughout the critical days of graded lockdown, your Senate was able to enact the annual budget on time,” Sotto said. “We are hopeful that the Senate’s work will, in time, contribute to regaining the nation’s spiritual vigor, political durability and economic stability.”

“When the time comes that my humble name will have to be ensconced and chiseled into the annals of the Senate’s history, I want to be remembered best as Vicente C. Sotto III, a musician by profession, a sportsman by affiliation, a drug-buster by vocation and a public servant by conviction,” he said.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto also made his farewell even as he reminded the next set of senators in the 19th Congress to maintain the independence of the chamber and not forget their sworn obligations to the people.

“In this age when our performances are gauged by shares and likes, the temptation is high to trade what is right over what is popular. When that beckons, let us remember the heritage which makes this institution a bulwark of democracy and independence,” Recto said.

“Through the years, this has been our role: we don’t countenance abuse; we counter it. We don’t diminish our sovereignty; we defend it. We don’t top tax proposals; we temper them. We believe that those who have less in life must have more in government help,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said he leaves the chamber with the satisfaction of having authored numerous reform legislation in having done his best “and, perhaps, experienced my worst.”

Drilon has been Senate president four times.

“I take pride in doing work that matters. The legacy that I wish to leave behind is written in between the lines of the laws I have authored. And so most of you know of what I have done, the pieces of legislation that I am particularly proud of. For more than two decades, I did my share in the passage of measures whose impact would last beyond our lifetime,” Drilon said.

“I am now often asked what advice I can give to new senators. There is no short or one answer. What I can say and share are some of the lessons that I learned in the 24 years that I have been in the Senate,” he said.

“My dear colleagues, the work of democracy is never finished. The challenge is to do better, to never be complacent, to never be disillusioned by our imperfect democracy or be attracted by the tempting notion that we have too much of it. Democracy is the reason why we stand here today, all 24 independent republics, able to speak and disagree freely, able to do the duty we have been elected to fulfill. Let us never take it for granted,” he said.

On his last day at the Senate, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said the moment reminded him of his days as a student riding public utility jeepneys, telling the driver to stop as he already reached home.

“As the final curtain falls upon my exit from the stage today, I am reminded of my student days when I was commuting from school to home. I would tell the jeepney driver – ‘Please stop Mr. jeepney driver. I will get off. That is already my house,” Lacson posted on Twitter.

Aside from Lacson, Sotto, Drilon and Recto, Senators Manny Pacquiao, Leila de Lima and Francis Pangilinan are also bidding goodbye.

‘Most productive’

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives yesterday adjourned its third and final regular session under the 18th Congress as lawmakers cited their accomplishments in what they described as “most productive” sessions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and Majority Leader Martin Romualdez lauded and thanked their fellow congressmen for their support that paved the way for swift and timely passage of needed legislative measures.

“Despite the many challenges that happened during my tenure as your Speaker, we have risen and proven ourselves to be one Congress ready to serve our people… We have shown that Congress could achieve much in the past few years despite the present challenges. We have shown that we are One Congress,” Velasco stressed in his valedictory speech.

He noted that the pandemic forced the House leadership to be dynamic, innovative and proactive.

“We implemented hybrid hearings and aggressive mass testing, and heightened health protocols to protect those attending the committee hearings and plenary deliberations,” Velasco said.

“Despite the lingering threat of COVID-19, we approved much-needed emergency pandemic response measures, and despite some political challenges, managed to pass the 2021 and 2022 national budgets on time,” he explained.

The reelected Marinduque congressman cited how the House served as “a key and steady partner of the executive department under President Duterte in passing laws that promoted economic development, strengthened the administration of justice, enhanced the protection of labor and social welfare, improved the quality of and increased access to education and information, enhanced our health and emergency response system and strengthened our political and government institutions.”

Velasco said his leadership proudly leaves the chamber “in order” as it “improved upon the past and will transition smoothly to the next Congress.”