Manny Pacquiao?s first year in the Philippines Senate saw the boxing legend and former two-term congressman make his mark on the country?s powerful legislative body by being a member of countless committees, heading up a few of them, and writing or co-writing and filing 17 Senate bills.
He also has had to deal with the ramblings of his country?s controversial president, Rodrigo Duterte.
Pacquiao said being organized and managing his time better than he has in the past is how he?s been able to be a senator by day and train for his Nov. 5th pay-per-view fight against WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas at night. He did not miss a single Senate session.
?The most difficult part is trying to control my time and to manage and discipline myself,? he told a group of reporters by phone Monday. ?The most difficult part of training in the past has always been when I do a bad job of managing my time. This time I managed my time and disciplined myself from going to my work to my training and that?s what I did in the Philippines. I don?t have any time to spend with my friends ? just time for hard work.?
Pacquiao was asked if he supported Duterte?s recent war of words against the United States, in which he said in Beijing that the friendly relationship between the Philippines and the USA was over. ?America has lost,? he said, while calling for a closer relationship with Russia and China. Duterte also threatened to throw the U.S. military out of the country.
?He has clarified everything about the relationship between the United States and the Philippines and it is a healthy relationship,? said Pacquiao, who flew to Los Angeles on Saturday to finish his training at Freddie Roach?s Wild Card Boxing Club. ?We all respect his statement and he clarified it already. The bond between the United States and the Philippines is longstanding and there is a great kinship between the people of our two countries.?
The most important piece of legislation he?s been involved in, Pacquiao said, is ?for the establishment of a boxing commission in the Philippines to focus on boxing that is close to being approved. I?m also sponsoring the restoration of the death penalty.?
Here is a look at the 15 Senate committees on which Pacquiao serves: Chairmanship Public Works Chairmanship on Sports Membership Commission on Appointments Membership on Education Membership on Tourism Membership on Public Services Membership on Agricultural Membership on National Defense Membership on Environment and Natural resources Membership on Energy Membership on Labor and Employment Membership on Civil Service Membership on Blue Ribbon Vice Chairman and Urban planning, Housing, and Resettlement Committee on Ethics
Here are the bills filed by Pacquiao, and the links to those bills:
AIR PASSENGER BILL OF RIGHTS ACT http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2464921237!.pdf
ALLOWABLE SYSTEM LOSS ACT OF 2016 http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2464721236!.pdf
BILLBOARD REGULATION ACT http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2456421139!.pdf (co-author)
IGLESIA NI CRISTO FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY, JULY 27 http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2384120512!.pdf (co-author)
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENT AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2016 http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2376720429!.pdf ( co-author)
180 DAYS MATERNITY LEAVE FOR ALL WOMEN WORKERS http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2361520278!.pdf
INCREASING THE COMPOSITION OF BARANGAY OFFICIALS http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2408620279!.pdf
HANDBOOK FOR OFWS ACT OF 2016 http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2361420274!.pdf
PHILIPPINE BOXER?S WELFARE ACT OF 2016 http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2361320269!.pdf
WIRELESS INTERNET (WI) ACCESS ACT http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2361220266!.pdf
CITIZEN ARMED FORCE OR ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES RESERVIST ACT http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2361120265!.pdf
COMMUNITY FITNESS CENTER IN EVERY BARANGAY http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2361020264!.pdf
DEATH PENALTY ON THE HEINOUS CRIME OF AGGRAVATED RAPE http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2360920249!.pdf
DEATH PENALTY ON THE HEINOUS CRIME OF KIDNAPPING http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2360820247!.pdf
DEATH PENALTY AND INCREASED PENALTIES ON CERTAIN HEINOUS CRIMES http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2360720244!.pdf
MINDANAO RAILWAYS AUTHORITY ACT OF 2016 https://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2483921394!.pdf
SIM CARD REGISTRATION ACT OF 2016 https://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2342020005!.pdf (Co-author)
