There are 2,159 Senate bills and 4,901 House bills filed since the 13th Congress opened on 26 July 2004. Six laws of national application were passed into law, the latest was RA 9340 (Resetting Barangay and SK Elections). Of the 53 measures considered in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council, only three bills were passed into law. The Rent Control Act is still waiting for the president’s approval. About 19 house bills of national application are pending action by the Senate. Bills approved on either house includes Investment and Incentives Code, Socialized and Low-Cost Housing Loan Restructuring Act, Anti-Smuggling Act, Bioethanol Fuel Act and the New Labor Code.

The number of bills filed is relatively small compared to the past congresses and the legislative output is even smaller. Critics put the blame on the present bicameral form of the legislature where bills come from the Lower House and a counterpart bill must be filed in the Senate. Others point this to the politicking and time-wasting inquiries in aid of legislation by both houses on controversial issues such as those relating to Constitutional Amendments and Anti-Terrorism Bill which are both on Second Reading.