SENATOR FRANCIS TOLENTINO (FT): Mr. President, I move that we resume consideration of Senate Bill No. 890. This is the bill on the Right-sizing the National Government Act of 2022.
SENATOR JINGGOY ESTRADA (JE): Is there any objection? Hearing none, the resumption of consideration of the said bill is now in order.
FT: Adding sponsor to the measure, I move to recognize the sponsor Senate President and Honorable Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero.
JE: Our Senate President is hereby recognized.
SENATE PRESIDENT FRANCIS ‘CHIZ’ ESCUDERO (CHIZ): Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you to our distinguished Majority Floor Leader. Mr. President, after delivering the sponsorship speech on Senate Bill No. 890 last 18, December 2024, this representation conducted a consultative meeting on the subject matter on January 7, 2025. Furthermore, the DBM submitted an updated executive version of the bill while stakeholders such as the GCG, Pag-ibig, Civil Service Commission, and the various government employee unions, associations, and alliances also submitted their respective position papers. Therefore Mr. President before we start the period of interpellation on this measure, this representation wishes to manifest that I intend to introduce an amendment by substitution during the period of amendments, without prejudice to my fellow senators asking questions on the amendment by substitution. I also sent an advance copy of the said amendment by substitution to the members of this caucus chamber through their respective chiefs-of-staff and chief legislative officers last Thursday, January 16, 2025. Hence with the permission of our colleagues Mr. President, with the permission of the body as well, may I move that we close the period of interpellation so that we can open the period of amendment, for the purpose of introducing this amendment by substitution. I shall move, Mr. President.
JE: Is there an objection? There being none, the motion is hereby approved.
CHIZ: May I now move to open the amendment and for this purpose, Mr. President, may I move in accordance with Rule 29 Section 82 Paragraph 2 of the rules of the Senate, to amend the Senate Bill No. 890 by deleting the entire text after the enacting clause and replacing the same with the provisions contained in the proposed amendment by substitution, as filed with the legislative bills and index service and distributed through e-mail to the office of the senators earlier today January 20, 2025. Further, may I also move that the text there of be considered as deemed being read into the records? I shall move Mr. President.
JE: Are there any objections to the proposal amendments by substitution? Hearing none, the motion is hereby approved.
CHIZ: Mr. President, before seeking to suspend the consideration of the measure I move that we once again resume the period of interpellation at the proper time when this bill is once again called for plenary debates.
JE: Any objection? There being none, motion is approved.
CHIZ: I move, Mr. President, that we suspend for the consideration of the Senate Bill No. 890. I shall move, Mr. President.
JE: Is there any objection? There being none, the motion is hereby approved.