President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. met with Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Friday to discuss the administration’s legislative priorities for 2023.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) released a photo of the meeting but did not provide further details.

“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. met with House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri today, 27 January, to catch up on the administration’s legislative agenda and plans for 2023,” PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement.

In a meeting at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Tuesday, Marcos and the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) officials discussed the administration’s legislative calendar and accomplishments, updates on bills covered by presidential certifications or directives, and other PLLO-related concerns.

Marcos expressed satisfaction over the progress of his administration’s priority bills and hoped Congress will ensure their immediate passage to support his economic development agenda.

As of Jan. 18, half of the 20 priority legislative measures mentioned in Marcos’ first State of the Nation Address have already been passed by the House of Representatives and transmitted to the Senate, based on the PLLO report.

Garafil said the remaining 10 priority bills are still at the committee levels in Congress while other Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council-priority bills passed by the House of Representatives are pending in the Senate.

On Tuesday, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) vowed to go full blast in pushing the legislative agenda by working closely with Congress.

DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the current administration’s legislative reforms agenda aims to promote “transparency, efficiency and responsiveness” in public service. (PNA)