Sen. Joel Villanueva said he is prepared to attend a special session of Congress should one be convened, emphasizing the need to address urgent national concerns affecting Filipinos.
In a video aired during a worship gathering of the Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide, Villanueva stressed that political conflicts should not dominate public discourse while the country faces multiple challenges.
According to the senator, the Philippines continues to grapple with rising prices of basic commodities, the weakening of the peso against the U.S. dollar, increasing fuel costs and the effects of the recent powerful earthquake that struck Mindanao.
Villanueva said that if a special session is called, he will fulfill what he described as his duty by attending and participating in the proceedings.
He added that one of his priorities would be filing a resolution aimed at ensuring sufficient government funding for the needs of Filipinos affected by the Mindanao earthquake.
The senator also said he intends to push for the passage of legislative measures that have already reached the second or third reading stage in the Senate.
In addition, Villanueva expressed support for addressing the confirmation of military officials whose appointments were not acted upon recently.
He maintained that public officials should focus on responding to the needs of citizens rather than engaging in partisan disputes.
“This is not the time to choose sides,” Villanueva said, stressing that government leaders should work together whenever Filipinos require assistance.
His remarks come as discussions continue over the possibility of a special session and as government agencies respond to the needs of communities affected by the recent earthquake in Mindanao.
