The Senate approved a total of 17 proposed measures on the third and final reading, just before Congress takes its break.

Included in the approved bills are the establishment of colleges of medicine for the implementation of the Doctor Para sa Bayan Act, which aims to initiate medical scholarship and return service programs.

The act is for deserving students in state universities and colleges (SUCs) or in partner private higher education institutions (PHEIs) and appropriation funds.

Moreover, the Senate nodded on several local bills that aimed to establish schools across the country, recognizing the importance of education in developing life skills.

Also approved in the Senate’s third reading is the modification of Republic Act No. 10868, also known as the Centenarians Act of 2016, which aims to provide P10,000 and P20,000 cash gifts for Filipinos ages 80 and 90, respectively.

Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said that the Agricultural Economic Sabotage Bill, which is certified as urgent by President Ferdinan Marcos Jr., will be considered in the period of amendments for the second and third readings this week.