SENATE President Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday gave assurance that Senate work and pending measures would continue despite the recent leadership change in the chamber, with the Senate approving two priority measures on Third Reading on his second day as Senate President.
During the Senate session on May 12, 2026, Cayetano clarified that ongoing hearings, bicameral conferences, and pending committee work may proceed even while the reorganization of Senate committees is still being finalized.
“The only things that are technically on hold are new hearings and the sponsorships on the floor pending designation of chairmen,” he said.
Eyeing to convene an “all-Senator caucus soon” to discuss committee assignments and pending legislative matters, the Senate President emphasized that under Senate rules and tradition, committees may continue functioning until successors are formally designated, particularly for measures and hearings already underway.
He also stressed the need to avoid unnecessary delays in legislative work, especially for pending measures considered important by senators from both the majority and minority blocs.
Cayetano likewise assured fellow senators that bills already under deliberation could still move forward while the chamber settles the reorganization of committees.
“Technically, you can. It’s just a matter of the majority leader, and the new majority would like that on the floor at the moment,” he said in response to questions regarding pending measures and sponsorships.
Amid public concerns following the recent Senate leadership change, Cayetano maintained that the chamber continues to perform its legislative duties and process priority measures affecting Filipinos.
That same day, the Chamber approved on Third Reading Senate Bill No. 1894, or the proposed measure enhancing the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, and Senate Bill No. 1966, which seeks to institutionalize the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
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