MANILA, Philippines — Moving swiftly to bypass ongoing legislative gridlock and fast-track disaster relief, the chief executive has forced the legislature back to the session floor. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Proclamation No. 1318, officially calling the Congress of the Philippines to convene a special session starting Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
The mandate circumvents the current sine die adjournment, recalling lawmakers to explicitly address critical social protection bills, pending high-level confirmations, and emergency funds for families affected by the recent devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao.
The President explicitly anchored his decree on Section 15, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution, which grants the executive branch authority to summon Congress into a special session at any time during an adjournment to address overriding state emergencies.
[ JURISDICTIONAL NATURE OF THE SPECIAL SESSION ]
│
┌────────────────────────────────────┴────────────────────────────────────┐
▼ ▼
[ AGENDA-RESTRICTED PLENARY ] [ INDEPENDENT DISSOLUTION ]
• **Strict Policy Targets:** Plenary discussions are legally bound to • **The Limits of Executive Reach:** While the President has the
the specific bills listed in the proclamation or those directly • sole prerogative to call a special session, he does not possess
tied to national survival. • the legal authority to terminate it.
• **Overriding the Gridlock:** Malacañang noted that the needs of • **Exclusive Power:** The power to officially close or dissolve
the public cannot pause while politicians handle administrative or • the special assembly belongs exclusively to the leadership of
personal disputes. • Congress.
Proclamation No. 1318 directs both the House of Representatives and the Senate to immediately consider and vote upon several priority bills that have sat stalled despite reaching advanced structural stages:
[ THE EXPEDITED SOCIAL PROTECTION MATRIX ] │ ▼[ 1. Healthcare & Welfare ]──► Fast-tracking the establishment of the **National Center for Geriatric Health** alongside the formal passage of the **Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) Act**. │ ▼[ 2. Educational Subsidies ]──► Introducing sweeping, critical amendments to the **GASTPE Act** (Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education) and the **Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act**. │ ▼[ 3. Governance & Reform ] ──► Putting the highly sensitive, long-delayed **Anti-Political Dynasty Law** on the floor alongside the creation of the **Presidential Merit Scholarship Program**.
The Targeted Nutrition and Access Initiatives: The special agenda also demands immediate action on amendments to the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act and the passage of the Last Mile and Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged and Conflict-Affected Areas (GIDA) Schools Act.
Beyond passing social infrastructure laws, a major driving force behind the emergency proclamation is the critical need to activate the Commission on Appointments (CA).
Political analysts point out that vital permanent promotions and confirmations across the Cabinet, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the foreign service have been held hostage for weeks due to an intense, polarizing leadership dispute dividing factions within the Senate chamber. The special session legally forces the CA to convene, ensuring stability across top-tier state and military institutions.
The administration’s call was immediately welcomed by congressional leaders, who urged colleagues to set aside ongoing partisan disputes to focus on the immediate welfare of earthquake victims in the south.
[ SENATE ATTENDANCE ALIGNMENTS ]
│
┌───────────────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────────┐
▼ ▼
[ THE GATCHALIAN BLOC ] [ THE CAYETANO MINORITY ]
• **Urgent Mobilization:** Acting Senate President Pro Tempore • **Enforced Quorum:** Prominent figures within Senator Alan Peter
Sherwin Gatchalian strongly implored his peers to show up, stating • Cayetano’s minority bloc—including Senator Joel Villanueva and
that the chamber must prioritize disaster funding allocations. • Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero—confirmed they will attend.
• **An Unbroken Mandate:** *“The Senate must continue to work, • **Historical Echoes:** Analysts note that the last time a special
fulfill its mandate, and respond to the needs of our nation,”* • session was forced occurred in 2020, an event that directly
Gatchalian announced in an official release. • resulted in a dramatic coup changing the House leadership.
With representatives from both competing Senate factions pledging to cross the aisle to secure a functioning quorum, Malacañang remains confident that the emergency session will smoothly pass the targeted financial cushions before the week concludes.