Cayetano backs special session for GenSan quake

The Manila Times

Cayetano backs special session for GenSan quake

SEN. Alan Peter Cayetano expressed full support Tuesday for convening a special legislative session to accelerate the delivery of assistance to communities affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao on June 8. “Any special session that will redound to the good of the Filipino people is welcome. If legislation is needed, good. We will meet right away,” Cayetano said in a press briefing. The senator urged national authorities to prioritize Mindanao in the wake of the powerful quake, saying the region now requires focused attention and resources for both relief and long-term recovery. Cayetano said he is coordinating with fellow lawmakers, local government officials, churches, schools and other stakeholders to support relief operations and assess the needs of affected communities. While acknowledging the country’s capacity to provide emergency assistance, he underscored the need to strengthen rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, which he described as a persistent weakness in the government’s disaster response system. “We are very good at relief, but we are weak in rehabilitation,” he said. Cayetano raised concerns over the government’s reliance on ad hoc task forces and agencies that are often stretched thin during major calamities. He noted that the current framework limits the country’s ability to effectively manage disaster response and long-term recovery. To address these gaps, Cayetano renewed his call for the passage of his bill creating a permanent Department of Emergency Response. The bill seeks to institutionalize disaster preparedness, response, rehabilitation and recovery efforts under a single agency, enabling faster and more coordinated action during emergencies. In a related development, Malacañang said Tuesday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants the Senate to settle its internal row first before calling for a special session. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro issued the statement after Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian said that Congress may have to ask the president to convene a special session to tackle the promotion of several generals and the passage of laws that were stalled due to the refusal of Cayetano and his allies to attend sessions. “Right now, it is still being finalized, but the president wants the Senate to first reach an agreement on their leadership row because even if the president requests a special session, it would be pointless if the senators themselves cannot agree,” Castro said during a press conference. She added that senators should focus on serving the public rather than pursuing personal interests. “They should fix the Senate because this is for the people, not for themselves. They must first resolve their conflicts and issues within the Senate,” Castro said. She added that the executive branch does not see any constitutional crisis in the Senate leadership dispute, noting the administration’s support for Acting Senate President Gatchalian. Asked whether a special session could still push through if the leadership impasse persists, Castro said any such move would have little value if legislative work remains paralyzed. “Even if the president calls for a special session, it would be meaningless if nothing gets done because the senators remain divided,” Castro said. “Our senators should prioritize the people, not their personal interests or ambitions,” she added. Meanwhile, Castro said the Palace does not intend to file charges against Cayetano and other individuals who have been tagging Gatchalian’s bloc as the “Senate of Malacañang.” She said the alleged security threats to the Senate have been referred for investigation. “To those who are attempting because there have been reports of such security threats — whether you are a senator or an ordinary person doing this — you will not escape the hands of the law,” Castro said. Asked whether the Palace considers Cayetano an obstructionist or a purveyor of fake news, Castro echoed Marcos’ call against the spread of misinformation and disinformation. “Fake news is flying around. Those into it should cease and desist. That is what the president clearly said,” she said.

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