THE Upper Chamber of Congress admitted that the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) bill which remains pending on second reading in the Upper Chamber, is still facing rough sailing.

Senate President Francis “Chi” Escudero admitted that the anti-discrimination bill has a better chance than the SOGIESC bill pushed in the Senate.

“Bago pa man ako naging tagapangulo ng Senado, mas malaki ang tiyansang makapasa ng Anti-Discrimination (Bill) kumpara sa SOGIESC Bill unless mapagbibigyan ang amendments,” he said.

He could not give a clear explanation of the amendments during the interview as he needs to review the bill. 

Earlier, Senator Risa Hontiveros urged Escudero to pass the bill.

The pro-LGBTQIA+ community advocate made the statement amid the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Manila’s call for the Philippine Congress to pass a law against discrimination against the members of the community.

“I have asked the Majority Leader to look into the committee report which has remained pending in the Committee on Rules and he has promised to do so. Sana ang bagong liderato ng Senado ay tumindig para sa ating LGBTQIA+ community ngayong Pride Month at pati na rin sa araw-araw nilang pamumuhay bilang mga tao,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

“Nineteen of my colleagues signed the committee report on the SOGIESC Equality Bill. That should speak to its acceptability across the aisle,” she stressed.

But Escudero said there are issues to be addressed.

“Unless the proponents of the SOGIE(SC) bill accede to some amendments, it will continue to face rough sailing in the Senate. The anti-discrimination bill, I believe, has a better chance of passing this year,” Escudero said.

Last May 8, the Senate committee on social justice, welfare, and rural development, chaired by Senator Imee Marcos, conducted a hearing on several comprehensive anti-discrimination bills which were proposed by some senators in lieu of the SOGIESC Bill.