Escudero eyes Senate sessions on Thursdays

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said Friday he would propose to extend the chamber's session days to Thursday.

In previous congresses, sessions were only held from Monday to Wednesday.

"Isa ‘yan sa ipapanukala ko sa mga miyembro pagbukas namin para naman hindi kayo malungkot dito sa Huwebes," Escudero told reporters.

(One of my proposals to my fellow senators once we resume sessions is this, so you won't feel lonely on Thursdays.)

According to Escudero, the additional session day would allow them to discuss and pass more bills, as the third regular session of the 19th Congress only has 70 session days.

He recalled that when he was a congressman, there were plenary sessions on Thursdays to discuss bills of local application and less controversial measures.

"Noong ako’y nasa Kamara rin may session kami tuwing Huwebes pero para sa local bills at para dun sa mga kahit national bills pag-a-agreehan ng lahat na hindi naman kontrobersyal at hindi naman kailangan pang pagtalunan at pag-awayan," Escudero said.

"Para lamang umusad ito at hindi makain 'yung oras sa regular na sesyon namin ng Lunes hanggang Miyerkules. Umaasa ako at hihilingin ko sa aking mga kasamahan na ito’y magawa namin para nga mula 70 maging 93 na araw yung aming sesyon sa pagtatrabaho," he added.

(When I was still in the House of Representatives, we had sessions every Thursday but only for the local bills and less contentious measures. The purpose of this is to pass these measures without eating up the time for more controversial measures, which are discussed from Monday to Wednesday. I will ask our colleagues to implement this so we can increase our session days from 70 days to 93 days.)

The third regular session of the 19th Congress will begin on July 22. —VBL, GMA Integrated News