With the 20th Congress now in full swing, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan filed on Tuesday, July 8, the second batch of his priority legislative measures in the 20th Congress.
Composed of seven priority bills and three resolutions, the senator aims to fulfill his campaign promise of improving the country’s agricultural sector, ending hunger and uplifting the lives of ordinary Filipinos, and combating corruption in all forms.
“We are filing today an Anti-Political Dynasty Bill. It is a long time coming. We’re also pushing for the end to single-use plastics, as well as improvements in our public transportation system. We have also filed resolutions: we want to push for the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act and look into the Rice Tariffication Act and how it affects our agricultural workers,” Pangilinan said.
“We bring the promise of hope that our kababayans have given me through their votes. That is where my mandate comes from—from the hopes and dreams they pinned on me as they cast their votes and believed in our advocacies and our platform,” he added.
During the campaign for the 2025 senatorial polls, the senator held multi-sectoral discussions to understand the plight of agricultural workers, the commuting public, and educators and learners.
These discussions, Pangilinan said, guided the priority measures he plans to tackle in the current Congress, underscoring also the need to protect the environment, fight against corrupt practices, and address the problems that commuters face every day.
Here is the list of the senator’s priority measures for the second round of filing in the 20th Congress:
Resolution to Investigate the Status of the Sagip Saka Act
Staying true to his campaign promise, Pangilinan is urging the Committee on Agriculture to investigate the status of the Sagip Saka Act to ensure that agricultural workers benefit from its provisions. The senator wants all local government units to comply with the Sagip Saka Act and empower their local farmers and fisherfolk to reap the benefits of the law.
Resolution to Restore the Regulatory and Market Intervention Powers of the NFA
This resolution seeks to determine whether it is time to restore the regulatory and market intervention powers of the National Food Authority (NFA). It also aims to look into amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law to ensure lower rice prices and food security,
Resolution to Investigate the Impact of Allowing Commercial Fishing Within the 15-Kilometer Municipal Waters on Small-Scale Fishers, Etc.
Commercial fishing within the 15-kilometer municipal waters has been one of the issues raised by fisherfolk to Pangilinan during the campaign. This resolution plans to investigate the impact of allowing commercial fishing in the municipal waters on small-scale fisherfolk, and to possibly amend existing laws and policies to safeguard their rights and welfare.
Anti-Political Dynasty Act
The proposed measure will define and prohibit the establishment of political dynasties in accordance with the intent of Section 26, Article 2 of the 1987 Constitution. It aims to provide equal access to opportunities for public office and public service to any qualified Filipino.
Deposits Disclosure Act
The measure seeks to lift all pertinent laws on the secrecy of bank deposits to ensure the rightful declaration of taxes and efficient revenue collection. The bill will combat domestic and global tax evasion, money laundering, other financial crimes, and corruption, among others. It also outlines the legitimate purposes under which deposits can be looked into.
National Land Use Act
The measure will institutionalize a comprehensive land use policy to ensure the sustainable use of the country’s land resources, as well as provide a mechanism to identify and evaluate the appropriate land use and allocation.
Rainwater Runoff Act
The bill will set the minimum rainwater management requirements and establish a method to collect and harvest rainwater for environmental sustainability. Rainwater, the bill said, can be used for urban and rural irrigation, groundwater recharge, firefighting, and as non-potable water supply source, such as for watering plants, flushing toilets, and washing cars and yards.
Single-Use Plastics Regulation and Management Act
This measure aims to phase out single-use plastics by prohibiting its use, production, and importation in food establishments, stores, markets, and retailers. It will also penalize those who will not enforce the prohibition and incentivize establishments that will reuse and recycle.
Dignity in Commuting Act
The proposed measure seeks to solve the country’s mobility issues by improving public transportation services and promoting the use of active transport, such as walking and biking. It also aims to make public transportation services affordable to the general public, as well as provide adequate sidewalks and bicycle lane networks.
National Parks Act
Through this proposed measure, Pangilinan is pushing for the identification of national parks, as well as for the establishment of urban parks and green spaces by local government units. It will also create the Philippine National Public Parks System.