Highlights of SGP’s Legislative Achievements
In her 6 years as a legislator, SGP has enacted a total of 48 laws, spread across the following periods:
For 16th Congress she have 19 Laws Enacted
For 17th Congress she have 32 R.A.s + 2 bills pending the President’s signature (Fresh Graduates Employment + Land Terminals Improvement)
Laws Enacted by Senator Grace Poe
"Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act” (R.A. No. 10639)
Requires mobile phone service providers to provide timely and free text alerts during impending calamities.
Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act” (R.A. No. 11037)
Requires the provision of at least 1 free meal for a period of at least 120 days to undernourished children aged 3-5 years in public day care centers, and to public school children from kindergarten to grade 6. Around 4.2 million children will benefit from this law.
Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act” (R.A. No 11148)
Provides free check-ups and counselling on the barangay level for women who are pregnant, due to give birth, and who have just given birth, as well as children aged 0 to 2 years old. This includes free immunization and micronutrient supplementation.
Extending the Validity of Driver’s Licenses (R.A. No. 10930)
Extends the validity of driver’s licenses from 3 to 5 years, which can be further renewed to 10 years. It also directs the LTO to issue driver’s licenses only to those with sufficient driving skills and knowledge on road safety and proper road courtesy.
Extending the Validity of Passports (R.A. No. 10928)
Extends the validity of Philippine passports from 3 to 10 years.
Created 7 new LTO offices in
Muntinlupa City; Caloocan City; Kawit, Cavite; Batangas City; Balayan, Batangas; San Pablo City; and Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
The “Trabaho Provision"
Inserted a provision mandating various franchise holders of telecommunications and broadcasting entities to generate meaningful and gainful employment in their primary place of business.
Other Significant Laws Co-Authored by Senator Grace Poe
Promotes voluntary HIV-testing at DOH-accredited institutions, and provides free HIV testing for indigents. It also seeks to prohibit employers and government agencies from discriminating against persons living with HIV/AIDS. Finally, it prohibits the disclosure of confidential HIV/AIDS information.
Requires government agencies to act upon simple transactions within 3 days, and complex transactions within 7 days. It also requires LGUs to issue a single application form for the various permits needed to operate a business, which shall be made available online.
This law ensures the financial life of the Social Security System by raising monthly contributions, while also providing a new unemployment benefit. It also makes pensions more affordable for self-employed and marginalize groups.
This measure replaces the import restrictions on foreign rice with tariffs. The revenues collected from the importation of rice will be allocated in the following manner:
i. 50% for Rice Farm Machines and Equipment;
ii. 30% for Rice Seed Development, Propagation and Promotion;
iii. 10% for Rice Credit Assistance;
iv. 10% for Rice Extension Services;
Provides various incentives for foreign-based Filipino scientists to undertake local science and technology activities in the country.
Requires franchise holders or operators of television stations and producers of television programs to provide “closed captions” (e.g. “subtitles”) in the broadcast of their programs including newscast, news programs and pre-scripted programs
Requires that the duties collected from agricultural products shall be collected and distributed in the following manner:
i. 80% to be loaned for agricultural machinery;
ii. 10% for the commercialization of agricultural and fishery products; and
iii. 10% as grants for college students of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and veterinary medicine education.
i. 80% to be loaned for agricultural machinery;
ii. 10% for the commercialization of agricultural and fishery products; and
iii. 10% as grants for college students of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and veterinary medicine education.
Bills in the last stages of the legislative process
Seeks to require the provision of free wireless internet and lactation stations in land transport and roro terminals. Furthermore, it prescribes the minimum standard for the sanitary facilities in these stations, and prohibits the collection of all fees for their use.
Exempts fresh graduates from paying fees for documents commonly required in job applications, including but not limited to police clearance, NBI clearance, Barangay clearance, and birth certificate.
Institutionalizes the student fare discount for all forms of public transportation.
Expands the definition of sexual harassment to include wolf-whistling, offensive body gestures, unsolicited touching and rubbing, and other similar acts. The MMDA and other law enforcement bodies shall be deputized to apprehend offenders when caught violating the act in flagrante delicto.
in Medellin; Ticao; Sipalay, Negros Occidental; Narra, Palawan; Bayugan, Asugan del Sur; Brooke’s Point, Palawan; Panabo, Davao del Norte; Valencia, Bukidnon;
Other important legislative measures (Pending Second Reading)
Provides the legal and procedural framework for Filipinos to exercise their right to access government information, as well the limitations of that right. It also provides the list of information which must be proactively published by the government.
Seeks to establish a National Transport Safety Board which will investigate all transport-related incidents in the country.
Seeks limit the definition of “public utility” to the distribution and transmission of electricity and water works and sewerage systems. In so doing, it will attract more investment in public services and improve their quality.
Defines “political dynasties” and provides a list of prohibited acts to prevent their proliferation, thereby opening up more avenues for ordinary citizens to hold elective office.
Defines and prohibits “labor only contracting” and retroactively regularizes all affected employees. Further, All employees, except for project and seasonal employees as defined under the Act, are deemed regular. For three months, employees regularized under this Act shall be provided with financial support not lower than the applicable minimum.
Other significant actions
I. Increased the budget of the DepEd School Feeding Program by Php 1 billion in 2019
II. Increased the budget of the DOH First 1,000 Days Program by Php 100 million in 2018. This is a precursor to the “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act” .
III. Inserted a special provision allowing the use of local government allocations for building Mother-Baby Hospitals in the 2019 budget.
IV. Inserted a provision requiring the DOH to provide Women’s Dignity Kits during disaster relief operations. The kits shall include, but not be limited to, underwear, sanitary napkins, oral health essentials, bathroom essentials, cotton balls, slippers, and a malong.
V. Inserted Php 20 million Capital Outlay to strengthen the PNP-Internal Affairs Service, to aid the PNP in policing their ranks;
VI. Earmarked 15-20% of all new PNP recruits for women who shall be assigned to vacancies in Women and Children’s desks;
VII. Increased the budget of the DOLE’s OFW Reintegration Program by Php 30 million;
VIII. Inserted 100 million of supplemental funding for the rehabilitation of Marawi under the Unprogrammed Fund;
IX. Inserted a special provision mandating the implementation of the fare discount under the TRAIN law.
X. Inserted a special provision allowing refurbished jeepneys should be allowed to continue operating, so long as they pass emission standards under the PUV Modernization.
XI. Has inserted a Young Farmers Project in the Department of Agriculture budget, to incentivize more youth to join the agriculture sector.
II. Increased the budget of the DOH First 1,000 Days Program by Php 100 million in 2018. This is a precursor to the “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act” .
III. Inserted a special provision allowing the use of local government allocations for building Mother-Baby Hospitals in the 2019 budget.
IV. Inserted a provision requiring the DOH to provide Women’s Dignity Kits during disaster relief operations. The kits shall include, but not be limited to, underwear, sanitary napkins, oral health essentials, bathroom essentials, cotton balls, slippers, and a malong.
V. Inserted Php 20 million Capital Outlay to strengthen the PNP-Internal Affairs Service, to aid the PNP in policing their ranks;
VI. Earmarked 15-20% of all new PNP recruits for women who shall be assigned to vacancies in Women and Children’s desks;
VII. Increased the budget of the DOLE’s OFW Reintegration Program by Php 30 million;
VIII. Inserted 100 million of supplemental funding for the rehabilitation of Marawi under the Unprogrammed Fund;
IX. Inserted a special provision mandating the implementation of the fare discount under the TRAIN law.
X. Inserted a special provision allowing refurbished jeepneys should be allowed to continue operating, so long as they pass emission standards under the PUV Modernization.
XI. Has inserted a Young Farmers Project in the Department of Agriculture budget, to incentivize more youth to join the agriculture sector.
I. As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs in the 16th Congress, she conducted an impartial but criminal investigation into the SAF 44 incident, and chased after the negligent government officials who were responsible.
II. As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services during the 17th Congress, she acted as the eyes and voice of commuters and the transport sector in scrutinizing the performance of the DOTr, particularly with regard to the MRT-3, PUV Modernization, Paranaque Integrated Exchange Terminal, and the Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) sector;
III. Also as Chairperson of the Committee on Public Services, pushed the government to implement the social protection mechanisms guaranteed under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, and pushed for the suspension of excise taxes on fuel due to high oil prices.
