The Senate on Monday approved a wide-ranging package of priority bills on third and final reading, covering major reforms in disaster response, offshore gaming, infrastructure, energy, education, and public sector governance.

Among the most notable measures is Senate Bill No. 2868, or the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, which bans Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). The bill repeals Republic Act No. 11590, effectively ending the legal status of offshore gambling in the country.

Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian, the bill’s principal author and chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, said the move responds to strong public demand to eliminate the social harms caused by POGOs.

“This isn’t just a law — it’s the people’s demand to end the POGO menace,” Gatchalian said, adding that the economic gains from POGOs do not outweigh their social costs.

The measure also calls for the forfeiture of all POGO-related assets to prevent their future use in illegal operations.

Another landmark bill passed is Senate Bill No. 2999, or the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act, which aims to shift disaster response from reactive to proactive. Senator Jinggoy Estrada, the bill’s sponsor and Senate President Pro Tempore, called it a “critical step” in preparing for forecasted hazards.

If enacted, the law would allow the President or local government heads to declare a “State of Imminent Disaster” based on scientific risk assessments, enabling early deployment of resources.

“If all goes well, the Philippines will be the first in the region — and in the world — to legislate anticipatory action,” Estrada said.

The bill is aligned with the ASEAN disaster management framework and is supported by agencies such as the Office of Civil Defense, PAGASA, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and the UN World Food Programme.

Other important bills passed include:

Senate Bill No. 2821 – Amends the Right-of-Way Act to speed up infrastructure projects.

Senate Bill No. 2899 – Creates the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority.

Senate Bill No. 2903 – Reorganizes the Philippine Coast Guard.

Senate Bill No. 2982 – Strengthens the fiscal autonomy of the judiciary.

Senate Bill No. 2969 – Converts the Philippine State College of Aeronautics into the National Aviation Academy of the Philippines.

Senate Bill No. 3000 – Establishes a career progression system for public school teachers and education leaders.

The Senate also approved several local development bills, including the creation of new hospitals, state colleges, electric cooperatives, and integrated schools across various provinces. These include:

Hospitals in Zamboanga del Sur, Aurora, and Quirino

State colleges in the Dinagat Islands and Sarangani

Electric cooperative franchises in Benguet, Aklan, Laguna, and Camarines Sur

As the 19th Congress nears its sine die adjournment, Senate leaders expect several of these bills to be transmitted to Malacañang for the President’s signature, marking a strong legislative finish to the session.