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By Carmela Fonbuena /Newsbreak

On May 5, Senate President Manuel Villar received a letter from Iloilo Rep. Raul Gonzalez Jr. expressing apprehension that certain bills approved by the House of Representatives may not be passed into law because of Senator Antonio Trillaness IVs inability to report to work.

"Frankly, Im quite apprehensive for the fate of the said bills particularly because my Senate counterpart, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, is reputed to be unable to attend hearings on account of his continued detention for rebellion charges," Gonzalez wrote Villar.

Trillanes and Gonzalez are chairs of their respective legislative chambers committees deliberating on laws that will improve and regulate the government bureaucracy. The House committee on civil service and professional regulation has transmitted two approved bills to the Senate. The Senate committee on civil service and government reorganization has not approved a single bill.

"We did our part," Gonzalez told /Newsbreak. He said that the letters intent is to push the Senate to do its part.

On the first working day this year, January 2, Trillaness committee received the approved version of House Bill 3274, which seeks to amend the Customs Brokers Act of 2004 to cut corruption in the Bureau of Customs. This bill was identified by the Legislative and Executive Development Advisory Council as a priority bill.

On March 12, the House transmitted HB 3514, the Real Estate Service Act , which seeks to correct the market values of real estate properties in the Philippines .
According to Ching Agcaoile of the Department of Finances chief of local treasury operations, the RESA bills approval in the House improved DOFs rating in the World Bank and the Australian Agency for International Development . Its passage into law will boost the confidence in the land market and, as a result, will invite more investors to the country, Agcaoile said.

"Considering the immense importance of the said bills to the concerned professionals and our public servants, I turn to you for help in shepherding the said pieces of legislation in the Senate," Gonzalez said in his letter to Villar.

Agcaoile, who is helping the Senates technical working group study the bill, is also concerned that the RESA bill will be "derailed" because of the situation in the Senate. The DOF helped the House in passing the bill.

Legardas neglect?
Trillanes, with the support of several senators, had asked the courts to allow him to leave his detention cell in Fort Boninfacio to be able to perform his functions as Senator. He was turned down. He also asked the courts to allow him to invite his staff and politicians to his detention cell so he can work. He was again turned down.
Because of the situation, the Senate Minority had appointed Senator Loren Legarda as acting chairman of the committee. Trillaness staff performed the secretariat functions. But no bill was passed under Legardas watch.

Legarda also chairs two other committees in the Senate—the committee on economic affairs and the committee on social justice, welfare and rural development. These two committees have passed at least one bill each.
The Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enteprises—which seeks to provide incentives to small scale entrepreneurs— was already ratified by Congress. It is only waiting for the Presidents signature for it to become a law. Senate Bill 2092—the Barangay Livelihood Skills Training Act—was also approved by the Senate committee on social justice, welfare, and rural development. The House is still deliberating on its version of the bill.

Lacson takes over
Unknown to Gonzalez, the Senate Minority on April 29 has appointed Senator Panfilo Lacson as Legardas replacement. It was a week before Gonzalez sent Villar the letter. Lacson, who is not heading any committee in the Senate, is the chairman of Trillaness committee in the 13th Congress.
When /Newsbreak told Gonzalez about Lacsons new appointment, Gonzalez said that it doesnt matter who will chair the committee. "Im hoping that the Senate President will be able to talk to the chair of the committee so that important pieces of legislation will receive the proper attention," Gonzalez said.

"Weve already consumed the first year of the 14th Congress. In two years, we will have the 2010 presidential elections. Once the campaign fever sets in, a lot of business will be sidelined."