A veteran legislator with a record of steering landmark legislation on climate, education, and social protection has been elected to a position she previously held during the 19th Congress.
Senator Loren Legarda was chosen as Senate President Pro Tempore on Monday, taking on a role central to presiding over sessions and maintaining order in chamber proceedings. The post had previously been hers from July 25, 2022 to May 20, 2024.
In her remarks following the election, Legarda trained her focus on economic pressures bearing down on ordinary Filipinos, arguing that the current environment demands legislation that is both swift and substantive.
“We cannot allow delay, complacency, or inaction to stand in the way of meaningful reform. Every bill we debate and pass must deliver real and lasting benefits where public action matters most,” she said.
She specifically named rising prices of food, transport, fuel, and electricity as areas requiring targeted legislative intervention, calling on the government to ensure that relief reaches the most affected sectors.
“Government must act so that relief reaches those who need it, prices are addressed with urgency, and policies protect not only the poorest, but also workers, farmers, fisherfolk, drivers, small businesses, and ordinary families,” Legarda said.
On her role within the institution, the four-term senator framed it in terms of stability and continuity rather than individual agenda.
“The Senate President Pro Tempore helps ensure that the work of the Senate continues with order, stability, and respect for the institution,” she said.
Legarda pledged to work across the aisle, committing to coordination with both Majority and Minority members as well as the Senate President.
“As Senate President Pro Tempore, I offer my full support to the Senate President, to the Majority and Minority, and to every member of this chamber. Let us communicate openly, combine our collective wisdom, and protect the integrity of this institution,” she added.
Legarda holds the distinction of being the first and only female Senate Majority Leader in Philippine history, a role that required managing floor deliberations and building consensus across blocs. She has chaired major Senate committees including Finance, Foreign Relations, Environment and Natural Resources, and National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation.
