Sandro Marcos: Senate shakeup slowed president’s legislative agenda

House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander ‘Sandro’ Marcos — File photo MANILA, Philippines — The Senate leadership shakeup was “definitely a factor” in slowing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s legislative priorities, House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos III said Monday. However, Marcos said he was confident that legislative work would now proceed as “efficiently as possible” under new Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, allowing priority measures to advance as expected. “The more political turmoil there is, the less time there is to work… but it’s good that the Senate is now organized,” he told reporters in mixed English and Filipino. “I’m sure under the leadership of SP Gatchalian, the legislative mill will… go back to functioning as efficiently as possible.” Article continues after this advertisement READ: Addressing high costs of basic goods, electricity tops Senate agenda The majority leader’s remarks come as the president has so far signed into law one of his priority bills for the 20th Congress: resetting elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The House has passed 26 of the 52 priority measures, but a Senate leadership shakeup in May stalled the legislative mill. “I’m sure he will get the Senate up working as quickly as possible,” Marcos said, referring to Gatchalian, whom he described as a “decent person.” In managing the House’s legislative performance, Marcos said he was satisfied with how he steered the chamber despite “political noise” that may have distracted lawmakers from their work. “The fact that we’re ahead of schedule would say that I’m satisfied with what’s been happening in the lower house as of late and with the legislative performance,” he said. Article continues after this advertisement “It speaks volume that despite the political noise we have been experiencing in the last few months, if not longer, Congress has still been able to exercise its functions as a legislative body,” he added. Philippine politics have been roiled by impeachment efforts against Vice President Sara Duterte, whom the House ousted in May. The Senate, tasked with trying her case, had seen a leadership shakeup in which Duterte’s allies briefly seized majority control. /das Article continues after this advertisement Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.