Senate of the Philippines

This is the Official Facebook Account of the Senate of the Philippines The said commission convened on June 1, 1986, and finished its work on October 15, 1986.

The 1972 Constitution abolished the bicameral legislature and in its stead established a unicameral body under a parliamentary government. The legislative bodies created during the martial law were the Batasang Bayan, the Interim Batasang Bayan and the Batasang Pambansa. When the popular “people power” or EDSA revolution broke out in February, 1986, Corazon Aquino was installed as the new Presiden

t. She issued a proclamation creating a Constitutional Commission to draft a new Constitution for the Philippines. A plebiscite, held on February 7, 1987, overwhelmingly ratified the present 1987 Constitution. The 1987 Constitution restored the presidential system of government together with the bicameral congress of the Philippines. Section 1, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution provides as follows:

The legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines, which shall consist of the Senate and the House of Representatives, except to the extent reserved to the people by the provision on initiative and referendum. The present Congress is actually a reincarnation of the Senate of the Philippines under the 1940 amendment to the 1935 Constitution. As mandated by the new constitution, the upper chamber is composed of 24 members elected at large, who serve a term of six years. Senators cannot serve beyond two consecutive terms. The Senate of the 19th Congress is currently headed by Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, and Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" L. Pimentel III. It has forty-one (41) permanent committees and fourteen (14) Oversight committees to fuel the wheels of the legislative mill. The Senate or any of its committees may conduct formal inquiries or investigations in aid of legislation. The committees are classified into: (1) standing or permanent; (2) special or ad hoc; (3) joint; and (4) sub. Subcommittees are created to parcel the work of standing or special committees. The "special" committees are created for a particular purpose and dissolved after accomplishing such purpose. Joint committees are those that include members of both houses. The following Senators have, at one time or another assumed the Senate helm: Manuel L. Quezon, 1916-1935; Manuel A. Roxas, 1945-1946; Jose Avelino, 1946-1949; Mariano Jesus Cuenco, 1949-1951; Eulogio Rodriguez, 1952-1963; Ferdinand Marcos, 1963-1965; Arturo Tolentino, 1966-1967; Gil J. Puyat, 1967-1973; Jovito Salonga, 1987-1992; Edgardo J. Angara, January 1993 - August 1995; Ernesto M. Maceda, October 1996 - January 1998; Neptali A. Gonzales, January 1992 - 1993; August 1995 - October 1996 and January 1998 - June 1998; Marcelo B. Fernan, July 1998 - July 1999; Blas F. Ople, July 1999 - April 2000; Franklin M. Drilon, April - November 2000; Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr., November 2000 - July 2001; Franklin M. Drilon, July 2001 - July 2006; Manny Villar, July 2006 - November 2008; Juan Ponce Enrile, November 2008 - June 2013; Franklin M. Drilon, July 2013 - July 2016; Aquilino "Koko" L. Pimentel III, July 2016 - May 2018; Vicente C. Sotto III, May 2018 - July 2022; and Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, July 2022 to present.

05/06/2026

05/06/2026

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐔𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano renews his call for the government and stakeholders to pursue solutions that protect the environment while serving the long-term interests of the Filipino people this World Environment Day and Philippine Environment Month.

Citing the Masungi Georeserve as an example of responsible environmental stewardship, Sen. Kuya Alan has stressed the need for government to act with prudence, transparency, and accountability in decisions affecting the country's natural resources.

Sen. Kuya Alan has long emphasized that protecting the environment means finding and supporting models that work and ensuring that future generations inherit a greener, more sustainable Philippines.

05/06/2026

Batas na ang Republic Act No. 12320 na nagtatakda sa buwan ng Abril bilang Philippine Veterans’ Month. Bilang principal author at principal sponsor, taos-puso kong iniaalay ito sa ating mga beterano na nagbigay ng tapang at sakripisyo upang makamtan natin ang kalayaan at demokrasya.

Ang kanilang kwento ay hindi malilimutan. Patuloy silang magiging gabay at inspirasyon sa kasalukuyan at sa mga kabataan na magmamahal at maglilingkod nang tapat sa ating bayan.

05/06/2026

19 years ago today, the Philippines strengthened its commitment to protect our seas and the communities that depend on them.

On June 2, 2007, Republic Act No. 9483, or the Oil Pollution Compensation Act of 2007, was enacted into law. Authored and sponsored by Senator , the law established a framework to hold those responsible for oil pollution accountable for the damage they cause to our environment, communities, and livelihoods.

Born out of hard lessons from the Semirara Island and Guimaras oil spills, RA 9483 helps ensure clear and fair compensation for affected communities, while strengthening the country’s capacity to prevent, contain, and respond to oil pollution.

Through this law, the Philippines took an important step toward protecting our marine resources and the millions of Filipinos whose lives are tied to healthy coastal ecosystems.