Legarda’s hand in 5 of 7 enacted laws in the 20th Congress, clear record of reform and fiscal discipline

Senator Loren Legarda has been central to five of the seven laws enacted so far in the 20th Congress, a record that reflects her steady leadership in education, fiscal policy, and inclusive governance.

As Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, and having previously chaired the committee, Legarda helped shape the ₱6.793-trillion General Appropriations Act (RA 12314) for Fiscal Year 2026. She ensured that education received the largest share of ₱1.34 trillion, equivalent to 4.4 percent of GDP, including ₱37.4 billion for the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education program. Her earlier work as Finance Chair secured an 8 billion tuition subsidy under the 2017 national budget, proof that free college was feasible even before the Free College Law (RA 10931) was signed into law in 2018.

Legarda authored and principally sponsored RA 12315, extending the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II). As Co-Chair of EDCOM II, she worked closely with educators and policymakers to advance reforms based on the Commission’s findings, which revealed severe learning gaps among Filipino students. She underscored that her role is not only to file targeted measures such as strengthening the Tertiary Education Subsidy and establishing a national program for early literacy and nurturing care, but also to ensure that reforms are collaborative, sustained, and responsive to the realities of education nationwide.

She also authored and co-sponsored RA 12316, the Fuel Tax Relief Act, which authorizes suspension of excise taxes on petroleum products amid rising prices. The measure provides immediate relief to families burdened by transport and electricity costs, giving immediate relief to families weighed down by transport and electricity costs. Legarda has pushed complementary measures as well, including the proposed Differentiated VAT Rates Act, Murang Bilihin at Serbisyong Medikal Act, and removal of VAT on electricity charges, all aimed at keeping essential goods within reach of ordinary households.

In governance and peace, Legarda authored and co-sponsored RA 12317, the BARMM Governance Act, which resets the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro region to September 2026. Formerly Chairperson of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, and Co-Chair of the Philippine Congress–Bangsamoro Parliament Forum, she emphasized that the law strengthens democratic participation and affirms the region’s role in national unity.

The fifth measure, RA 12320 or the Philippine Veterans’ Month Act, was principally authored and principally sponsored by Legarda to institutionalize national commemoration programs for Filipino veterans. The law ensures that the sacrifices of soldiers are permanently honored through education, remembrance, and benefits, embedding their legacy into the country’s civic consciousness.

Together with these five measures, two additional laws, the naturalization of athletes Maodo Diouf (RA 12318) and Elizabeth Jeanette Means (RA 12319), complete the seven laws enacted so far in the 20th Congress. Legarda has expressed her support for these measures, recognizing their contribution to national identity and pride.

“In the Senate, every decision carries weight. Laws must always deliver real relief, open doors for learning, and honor those who gave their lives for the country. My duty is to stand firm, to act with conviction, and to make sure that the work we do leaves a lasting impact on the lives of our people,” Legarda said.

Legarda’s pace in the 20th Congress has been remarkable. In the first regular session alone, covering only its first year, she has already authored 170 bills, exceeding the 146 bills she filed throughout the entire three-year 19th Congress. She has also authored 15 Resolutions, reflecting a prolific and sustained legislative agenda across a multitude of sectors, including education, agriculture, innovation, fiscal reform, climate action, culture, governance, and social protection, as well as defense and veterans recognition. As a veteran four-term senator, Legarda has developed a deep understanding of how legislation moves from policy concept to enacted law, allowing her to advance reforms through every stage of the legislative process.

Even before the final session day, Legarda’s legislative momentum was already evident. The Senate had approved on third reading the Aklan Piña Museum and Cultural Center Act and the bill institutionalizing Schools of Living Traditions, while the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) Schools Act had advanced to the enrolled bill stage following bicameral action.

This pace carried through to the final day of the first regular session. During the special session held last 17 June 2026, Legarda’s Waling-Waling bill, which she principally authored and sponsored, was approved on third reading. She also took part in priority measures, including the ratification of amendments to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which she authored and sponsored, and measures on barangay health workers, anti-political dynasty reform, and agricultural cooperatives. Up to session’s close, Legarda remained actively engaged across major bills as principal author, sponsor, author, and co-sponsor.

“The measure of our work is in the lives we uplift and the institutions we strengthen. I will remain relentless in this work, because public service demands persistence, purpose, and the will to see reforms through,” Legarda concluded. (30)

————————————————————————

5 sa 7 batas na naipasa sa ika-20 Kongreso, patunay ng dedikasyon ni Legarda bilang tagapagtaguyod ng reporma at maingat na pamamahala sa pondo

Si Senadora Loren Legarda ay naging mahalagang bahagi sa pagpasa ng lima sa pitong batas sa ika-20 Kongreso, isang rekord na nagpapakita ng kanyang tuluy-tuloy na papel sa edukasyon, pananalapi, at pamahalaang nakatuon sa lahat.

Bilang Pangalawang Tagapangulo ng Senate Committee on Finance, at dating naging Chairperson nito, nakatulong si Legarda sa pagbuo ng ₱6.793-trilyong General Appropriations Act (RA 12314) para sa taong 2026. Tiniyak niyang pinakamalaking bahagi ay napunta sa edukasyon—₱1.34 trilyon o 4.4 porsyento ng GDP—kabilang ang ₱37.4 bilyon para sa Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education program. Noong 2017, bilang Finance Chair, nakapaglaan siya ng ₱8 bilyon para sa tuition subsidy, patunay na posible ang libreng kolehiyo bago pa naisabatas ang Free College Law (RA 10931) noong 2018.

Siya rin ang author at principal sponsor ng RA 12315 na nagpapalawig sa Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II). Bilang Co-Chair ng EDCOM II, nakipagtulungan siya sa mga guro at policymaker upang isulong ang mga reporma batay sa natuklasan ng Komisyon na may malalaking kakulangan sa pagkatuto ng mga estudyanteng Pilipino. Binigyang-diin niya na ang kanyang papel ay hindi lamang pagsusulong ng mga panukala gaya ng pagpapalakas sa Tertiary Education Subsidy at pagtatatag ng pambansang programa para sa maagang literasiya, kundi ang pagtitiyak na ang mga reporma ay sama-samang isinusulong, tuloy-tuloy, at tumutugon sa tunay na kalagayan ng edukasyon sa bansa.

Siya rin ang author at co-sponsor ng RA 12316, ang Fuel Tax Relief Act, na nagbibigay kapangyarihan na suspindihin ang excise tax sa produktong petrolyo sa panahon ng mataas na presyo. Nagbibigay ito ng agarang ginhawa sa mga pamilyang nahihirapan sa gastos sa transportasyon at kuryente. Kasabay nito, itinulak din ni Legarda ang iba pang panukala gaya ng Differentiated VAT Rates Act, Murang Bilihin at Serbisyong Medikal Act, at pagtanggal ng VAT sa singil sa kuryente, lahat nakatuon sa pagpapanatiling abot-kaya ang pangunahing pangangailangan ng mga mamamayan.

Sa pamamahala at kapayapaan, siya ang author at co-sponsor ng RA 12317, ang BARMM Governance Act, na nagtakda ng regular na halalan sa Bangsamoro region sa Setyembre 2026. Bilang dating Chairperson ng Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, at Co-Chair ng Philippine Congress–Bangsamoro Parliament Forum, binigyang-diin niya na ang batas ay nagpapalakas ng demokratikong partisipasyon at nagpapatibay sa papel ng rehiyon sa pambansang pagkakaisa.

Ang ikalimang batas, RA 12320 o Philippine Veterans’ Month Act, ay siya ring principal author at principal sponsor. Layunin nitong gawing institusyonal ang pambansang programa ng paggunita sa mga beteranong Pilipino. Tinitiyak ng batas na ang sakripisyo ng mga sundalo ay patuloy na pararangalan sa pamamagitan ng edukasyon, alaala, at benepisyo, upang manatiling buhay ang kanilang pamana sa kamalayan ng bansa.

Kasama ng limang batas na ito, dalawa pang batas—ang naturalisasyon ng mga atleta na sina Maodo Diouf (RA 12318) at Elizabeth Jeanette Means (RA 12319)—ang bumubuo sa pitong batas na naipasa sa ika-20 Kongreso. Buong suporta ang ipinahayag ni Legarda sa mga ito bilang ambag sa pambansang identidad at dangal.

“Sa Senado, bawat desisyon ay may bigat. Ang mga batas ay dapat magdala ng tunay na ginhawa, magbukas ng pinto sa pag-aaral, at magbigay-pugay sa mga nag-alay ng buhay para sa bayan. Tungkulin kong maging matatag, kumilos nang may paninindigan, at tiyakin na ang aming gawain ay may pangmatagalang epekto sa buhay ng ating mga mamamayan,” ani Legarda.

Sa unang regular na sesyon pa lamang ng ika-20 Kongreso, nakapaghain si Legarda ng 170 panukalang batas—mas mataas kaysa sa 146 na naihain niya sa buong tatlong taon ng ika-19 Kongreso. Naghain din siya ng 15 Resolusyon, na nagpapakita ng tuluy-tuloy na pagsusulong niya ng agendang sumasaklaw sa iba’t ibang sektor gaya ng edukasyon, agrikultura, inobasyon, repormang pinansyal, aksyon sa klima, kultura, pamamahala, proteksyong panlipunan, pati na depensa at pagkilala sa mga beterano.

Bago pa man matapos ang sesyon, naaprubahan na sa ikatlong pagbasa ang Aklan Piña Museum and Cultural Center Act at ang panukalang gawing institusyonal ang Schools of Living Traditions, habang ang GIDA Schools Act ay umabot na sa enrolled bill stage matapos ang bicameral action.

Sa huling araw ng sesyon noong Hunyo 17, 2026, naaprubahan sa ikatlong pagbasa ang Waling-Waling bill na siya ring principal author at sponsor. Nakibahagi rin siya sa mga prayoridad na panukala gaya ng ratipikasyon ng mga amyenda sa Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act na siya ring author at sponsor, at mga panukala ukol sa barangay health workers, reporma laban sa political dynasty, at agricultural cooperatives. Hanggang sa pagsasara ng sesyon, aktibo si Legarda bilang principal author, sponsor, author, at co-sponsor sa mahahalagang panukala.

“Ang sukatan ng aming trabaho ay nasa mga buhay na aming naiaangat at sa mga institusyong aming pinatitibay. Mananatili akong masigasig sa gawaing ito, dahil ang paglilingkod-bayan ay nangangailangan ng tiyaga, layunin, at tapang na ituloy ang mga reporma,” pagtatapos ni Legarda. (30)