Press Release - Chiz: We must ease the burdens of overworked, underpaid Filipinos

Senate President Francis "Chiz" G. Escudero on Monday vowed to focus on crafting laws that ease the burdens of overworked and underpaid Filipinos, as he formally opened the third and final session of the 19th Congress.

In his speech, Escudero called for a shift in priorities to address the immediate needs and challenges of the public, envisioning a Senate that "bridges social divides and builds a path to prosperity for every Filipino."

"Our people are overworked, underpaid, and overburdened. A comfortable life has eluded them for generations," Escudero lamented.

"Their dreams and struggles, more than any policy paper, provide what our legislative agenda should contain and inspire us to work hard towards the same," he stressed. "I say that it is time to reframe our work--and pivot to laws that would make the life of the Filipino easier."

Escudero said the foremost task of senators is to be the "Chief Common Sense Officers of the government," believing that common sense is crucial for bringing ease to the lives of Filipinos.

The Senate President lamented the frequent absence of common sense in government. "Ang hirap lang palagi sa common sense, hindi po madalas common. Hindi nakikita sa maraming ahensya, opisyal at empleyado ng pamahalaan," he noted.

Escudero stressed that the Senate should lead in applying common sense to balance and properly address every issue and problem it aims to solve.

In calling for a fundamental change in lawmaking priorities, Escudero criticized the current focus on laws that primarily benefit big businesses.

"I have noticed that we have passed a raft of laws that ease the burden on big business, that provide for ease of paying taxes, that provide ease of unloading bad loans," he observed.

The Senate President questioned the absence of legislation aimed at improving essential aspects of daily life for the general population.

"Bakit walang ease of commuting and connecting? Ease of finishing school and finding work? Ease of healthcare for the sick? Ease of acquiring justice? Ease of growing food and feeding our families?" he asked.

Escudero committed to ensuring that every law and budget decision is made with the best interests of the