Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian opened the 20th Congress with a legislative agenda aimed squarely at the issues weighing most heavily on Filipino households, signaling that the chamber intends to focus less on politics and more on the cost of living.
In his opening address, Gatchalian identified high food prices, expensive electricity, volatile fuel costs, infrastructure development and stronger support for micro, small and medium enterprises as the Senate’s top economic priorities.
Leading the list is food inflation, particularly rice prices, which he said continue to strain household budgets.
“For the past year, the average price of regular rice has increased significantly, affecting every Filipino household,” Gatchalian said, calling for reforms that would make staple food more affordable.
Electricity costs are also under the spotlight. Gatchalian noted that power rates in Metro Manila have climbed steadily since late last year, adding that the Philippines posted the highest average electricity prices in Asia in June, based on a Department of Energy briefing. He said the Senate would work with the Executive branch to strengthen oversight of the power sector and improve regulation to better protect consumers.
Fuel pricing is another area targeted for reform. Gatchalian said amendments to the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act would require greater transparency, allowing regulators to determine whether pump price increases reflect genuine global market movements or excessive margins.
Beyond easing near-term pressures, the Senate is also eyeing measures designed to sustain long-term growth. Gatchalian backed the proposed Master Plan for Infrastructure and National Development Act, which would establish a 30-year rolling pipeline for roads, airports, hospitals and energy projects to provide investors with greater policy certainty.
He also reaffirmed support for measures benefiting MSMEs, which remain among the country’s largest employers.
To tie the agenda together, Gatchalian proposed creating an ad hoc committee on economic growth that would coordinate priority legislation, accelerate job creation and align reforms aimed at reducing the cost of living, signaling a more integrated approach to economic policymaking in the new Congress.
