Bills creating the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines and the Department of Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos are among the priority measures of senators for their third regular session, leaders of the upper chamber said on Sunday. 

 

The measure on the virology institute, which will delve into the study of viruses, remains pending at the committee level. Meanwhile, bills on OFW department had been consolidated last May.

 

The House of Representatives also included the proposed Philippine Virology Institute Act in the list of the chamber’s priority bills. 

 

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said that aside from these proposed laws, the Senate will work on the passage of Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE), Passive Income Tax and Financial Intermediary Tax Act (PIFITA), Rural Agricultural and Fisheries Development Financing System Act (Agri-Agra), and the Valuation Reform Bill. 

 

The upper house also aims to pass amendments to the Public Service Act (PSA) and the Foreign Investment Act (FIA). 

 

Senate Minority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri also said they will focus on the passage of Modernization of the Bureau of Fire Protection, Increasing the Statutory Rape Age Act, Military and Uniformed Personnel Insurance Fund Act, Philippine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Act, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Extension Law. 

 

Zubiri added the Senate will possibly approve the Bayanihan to Arise as One Act or Bayanihan 3. The House of Representatives approved the P401-billion COVID-19 stimulus package last month. 

 

The Senate will resume its hybrid session on Monday after President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his last State of the Nation Address.