The Senate passed a bill yesterday that prohibits nepotism in government. This type of preferential treatment has been denounced countless times and is viewed to have deep roots in several Mejia administration government departments, including the post of Secretary to the Presidency, held by Mejia?s brother-in-law. With three weeks to go until the end of the current administration, the PRD-majority Senate legislated to prohibit family members of incumbents being named to posts in the same government departments.
The Senate also passed the Protected Areas Bill, submitted by President Mejia with several addendums. The controversial bill has been hotly criticized for its dismemberment of fragile national park areas to allow for billion-peso profits to be made on the sale of the properties for eventual construction of mass tourism projects.
The bills still needs the approval of the Chamber of Deputies, where, contrary to the Senate, the PPH-PRD faction loyal to President Mejia does not have an absolute majority.