Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday laid out five key issues the chamber will prioritize as the 20th Congress opened its second regular session, citing the burden of rising costs and economic pressures on Filipinos.
In his opening speech, Gatchalian said the Senate would focus on addressing high food prices, low take-home pay of workers, rising electricity costs, gaps in infrastructure and transport, and job insecurity, alongside the timely passage of the proposed national budget.
“Anuman ang ating katayuan sa buhay, ramdam nating lahat ang bigat ng mga problemang ito,” he said.
Rising food prices
Gatchalian flagged the continued increase in food prices, noting that the average price of regular milled rice rose by nearly 20% over the past year.
He said the Senate would prioritize amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law to ensure adequate supply and affordable prices while protecting farmers’ income and strengthening the National Food Authority’s buffer stock.
Low take-home pay of workers
On workers’ income, he said inflation has eroded purchasing power, with the value of PHP 100 in 2018 now equivalent to about PHP 74.
The Senate will push for the proposed “Ginhawa Bill,” which seeks to raise take-home pay by exempting those earning up to PHP 400,000 annually from income tax and increasing tax-free ceilings for bonuses, while removing taxes on overtime, holiday pay, night shift differential, hazard pay and service charges.
High electricity and energy costs
Gatchalian also highlighted the rising cost of electricity, citing higher residential rates in Metro Manila that reached as much as PHP 14.50 per kilowatt-hour in June, up from PHP 12.20 a year earlier.
He said the Senate would prioritize the proposed measure strengthening the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to improve oversight and protect consumers.
The Senate President added that high power costs also affect the transport sector, which remains vulnerable to global oil price shocks.
During the height of tensions in the Middle East, diesel prices surged to as high as PHP 153.70 per liter. The Senate will seek amendments to the Downstream Oil Industry Regulation Act to ensure transparency in fuel pricing and prevent unreasonable charges.
Infrastructure and transport gaps
On infrastructure, Gatchalian said the Senate would back the proposed Master Plan for Infrastructure and National Development, or MINE bill, which aims to establish a 30-year roadmap integrating major projects such as roads, airports, hospitals and energy pipelines to spur economic growth and job creation.
Job security and MSME support
He also underscored the need to strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to generate employment, noting that more than 660,000 Filipinos lost their jobs between May 2025 and May 2026. MSMEs account for 99.7% of registered businesses in the country.
The Senate will prioritize amendments to the Magna Carta for MSMEs to improve access to financing, credit guarantees, shared services and technical support, he said.
Gatchalian also proposed the creation of an ad hoc committee tasked with advancing measures to boost economic growth, create jobs and make the cost of living more affordable.
He called on lawmakers to work together in pursuing reforms that protect livelihoods and strengthen institutions.
“Let us come together as one Senate, one government, one people and set our nation towards a horizon of progress for every Filipino, in every generation,” he said.
The session was later suspended as lawmakers prepared for the fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
