Senate resumes session on Monday; to hold necrological services for Flavier

Senate of the Philippines. Photo courtesy of issue.ph.

MANILA – The Senate will resume its regular session on Monday with necrological services for former Senator and Health Secretary Juan Flavier and preparation for plenary debates on the 2015 proposed Php 2.606-trillion national budget topping the agenda.

The necrological services will be held in the morning for Flavier who served as senator from 1995 to 2007.

Flavier died of pneumonia last Oct. 30 at age 79. His remains were cremated last Nov. 4 and only the urn containing his ashes will be brought to the Senate for the necrological rites.

Senate President Franklin Drilon is leading his fellow senators in waiting for Flavier’s urn at 9:30 a.m. at the main entrance of the Senate Building in Pasay City.

The senators, together with Flavier’s wife and children, the Senate Secretary, Sergeant-at-Arms, Deputy Secretaries, Senate Legal Counsel, and Director-General would escort the urn containing the remains of the former senator to the Session Hall at the Second floor of the building.

The urn will be carried by pallbearers of the Philippine National Police.

Senate Secretary Oscar Yabes said the senators will deliver eulogies for their former colleague at around 9:55 a.m.

The Senate will also present a resolution expressing the Senate’s “profound sympathy and sincere condolence” on the death of the former senator to Flavier’s family.

“The hardworking legislator registered a perfect attendance during the sessions and was instrumental in the enactment of landmark legislations promoting public health care and improving the quality of life of the people,” according to the resolution.

“The passing away of the illustrious senator is a great loss not only to his bereaved family but to the nation as well,” it added.

Yabes said the Senate will host a lunch for the family and relatives of the late Flavier, senators and guests at the Recto-Laurel Rooms.

He said the pallbearers will carry the urn to the Ground Floor after lunch for its departure with senators and senate officials in attendance.

The Senate has been flying the flag at half-mast since Flavier’s death as a symbol of its mourning.

Among Flavier’s authored and sponsored bills that passed into law were the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (Republic Act No. 8423); Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act (R.A. 8425); Philippine Clean Air Act (R.A. 8749); Indigenous People’s Rights Act (R.A.8371); Anti-Money Laundering Act (R.A. 9160); law declaring Eid’l Fitr as a National Holiday (R.A. 9177); Barangay Micro-Business Enterprise (R.A. 9178); National Service Training Program for Tertiary Students (R.A. 9163); the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (R.A. 9165); the Plant Variety Protection Act (R.A. 9168); the Philippine Nursing Act (R.A. 9173) and the Tobacco Regulation Act (R.A. 9211).

In the afternoon, Senate Finance committee chairman Francis Escudero said he will submit the committee report on the proposed national budget and will sponsor it on the floor on Tuesday.

Escudero said the Senate will hold morning and afternoon sessions for plenary deliberations to make sure that the national budget will be passed on third and final reading on or before the first week of December.

”We’re hoping that the national budget will be submitted to Malacanang for the President’s approval before we take Christmas break on December 18,” Escudero said.