And just like that. The gavel has passed once more in the Philippine Senate, ushering in a new chapter of leadership with Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III assuming the presidency from Senator Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero—barely a month since the 20th Congress convened.
Escudero’s term, though brief, was marked by a surge of legislative productivity, institutional reform, and a steadfast commitment to public service. According to official Senate records, the 19th Congress enacted a total of 289 laws, with a remarkable 216 passed during Escudero’s tenure as Senate President that began in May 2024 during the 3rd Regular Session.
The numbers speak volumes:
- 1st Regular Session (2022–2023): 19 laws
- 2nd Regular Session (2023–2024): 54 laws
- 3rd Regular Session (2024–2025): 216 laws
Following the adjournment of the 19th Congress, 25 additional laws—products of Escudero’s legislative groundwork—were signed into law between July 28 and September 8, 2025, during the early weeks of the 20th Congress. This brings the total number of laws enacted under his presidency to 241.
Among the landmark measures passed during his watch were: An Act Resetting the First Regular Elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, An Act Optimizing the National Government for Efficient Public Service Delivery, An Act Setting the Term of Office of Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan, and An Act Defining the Scope and Extent of the Fiscal Autonomy of the Judicial Branch of Government.
Equally significant were reforms in education and agriculture, including the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program Act, the Enterprise-Based Education and Training Framework Act, the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, and amendments to the Agricultural Tariffication Act.
The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) hailed the 19th Congress as “the most productive legislative body” since the Ramos administration of the 1990s. “This achievement would not have been possible without the heightened synergy between the Senate and the House of Representatives,” said socioeconomic planning secretary Arsenio Balisacan.
“Taos-puso akong nagpapasalamat sa aking mga kapwa senador, sa masisipag na kawani ng Senado, at sa bawat Pilipinong patuloy na nagtitiwala sa ating tungkulin,” Escudero posted in his personal Instagram account.
He also underscored that many of these laws were born out of rigorous Senate inquiries, transforming public scrutiny into actionable policy. Even as he stepped down, Escudero reaffirmed his enduring commitment to public service: “Ang aking paglilingkod ay hindi nagtatapos sa isang posisyon. Patuloy akong magsusulong ng mga adhikain para sa Senado at sa sambayanang Pilipino—sa loob o labas man ng plenaryo.”
As Senate President Sotto takes the helm, the hope is that the upper chamber will continue to build on this momentum. If Escudero’s term proved anything, it’s that leadership, no matter how brief, can leave a lasting legislative legacy.
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