06/09/2026
: From bills and treaties to budget reviews, fiery speeches, and the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, the Senate this week tackled a packed agenda on governance, accountability, and public welfare. Here are the highlights:
1. Third reading approval of Senate Bill No. 1962 or the proposed Government Contracting and Procurement Integrity Act.
2. The Senate approved on second reading Senate Bill No. 2410 or the proposed Presidential Merit Scholarship Program Act.
3. The Senate approved on second reading the following resolutions:
Senate Resolution No. (SRN) 622, concurring in the accession to the protocol to amend the Convention on Offences and Certain Other Acts Committed on Board Aircraft.
SRN. 624, concurring in the ratification of the Philippine-India Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.
SRN 625, concurring in the ratification of the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects.
SRN 626, concurring in the accession to the Asia-Pacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in the Higher Education
SRN 628, concurring in the ratification of Philippines–Cambodia agreement on double taxation and tax evasion prevention;
4. The adoption of SRN 62, commending the Philippine Taekwondo Association on its 50th anniversary.
5. In her privilege speech, Sen. Risa Hontiveros warned of critical water supply issues stemming from poor utility services and the threat of a super El Niño.
6. In his privilege speech, Deputy Majority Leader Joel Villanueva urged immediate and permanent infrastructure solutions to resolve seasonal flooding along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).
7. Senate President Win Gatchalian sponsored a resolution to establish the Reinvigorate Investment and Sustainable Economic Growth (RISE) Ad Hoc Committee to draft strategies addressing the global economic slowdown and geopolitical impacts.
8. Presentation of three new witnesses, including former Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary and spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa, regarding the utilization of DepEd’s confidential funds during the impeachment trial.
9. The Clerk of Court formally received additional bank, insurance, and investment financial records from multiple firms complying with the Impeachment Court's subpoenas.
10. Committee on Finance Subcommittee A, chaired by Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, scrutinized budget proposals of the following agencies:
Office of the Ombudsman
Commission on Audit (COA)
Department of Health (DOH) and its attached agencies
11. The Committee on Public Services, chaired by Sen. Raffy Tulfo, continued its inquiry into Joint Venture Agreements signed by local water districts.
12. The Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Sen. Risa Hontiveros,resumed its investigation into the proliferation of substandard rebars in the local market.
13. The Committee on Energy, chaired by Sen. Erwin Tulfo, discussed proposals to amend the Downstream Oil Deregulation Law
14. The Committee on Foreign Relations, chaired by Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri tackled the following international agreements:
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage on the Privileges and Immunities of the Board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage
International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979, as amended (SAR Convention)
Convention on Nuclear Safety
Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management
Protocol to Amend the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage
Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage
15. Senate leaders discussed trade, infrastructure development, defense cooperation, and inter-parliamentary relationships with Japanese MP Ichimura Koichiro during his visit.
