Legislative work aligned with priority policy areas under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) shaped the agenda of the Philippine Senate in 2025, as the chamber filed more than 1,600 measures during the First Regular Session of the 20th Congress and capped the year by ratifying the PHP6.793-trillion national budget for 2026.
Official legislative data as of Dec. 17 showed that the Senate filed 1,625 Senate bills, covering governance reforms, social protection, health, education, agriculture, energy and digital services — policy areas requiring coordinated executive-legislative action.
During the first full LEDAC meeting of the 20th Congress, Senate President Vicente Sotto III agreed to focus on aligning executive and congressional priority bills and adopting the Common Legislative Agenda, with discussions centering on healthcare, education, agriculture, energy security and governance and digital reforms aimed at improving public service delivery.
“These priorities reflect our collective effort to ensure that policies are both responsive to the immediate needs of the people and consistent with our long-term development goals,” Sotto said.
On the legislative front, proposals filed and deliberated during the year include measures to support farmers and fisherfolk, expanded social protection and health services for vulnerable sectors, education and nutrition programs, and secure energy, water and digital infrastructure.
On the plenary floor, three measures were approved on second reading — the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act, the Comprehensive Lupus Prevention Act, and the Health Outreach for Seniors and Indigents Program — while dozens of other LEDAC-aligned proposals advanced through committee hearings and consolidation.
The Senate also acted on 206 resolutions, adopting 31, and approved all seven Senate concurrent resolutions filed during the session, reinforcing legislative procedures and transparency.
Capping the year’s work, the Senate ratified the bicameral conference committee report on House Bill No. 4058, the proposed PHP6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2026, following the first livestreamed bicameral conference proceedings in Philippine legislative history.
The Senate is set to resume its regular session on Jan. 26, 2026. (PNA)
