Vested Interest Groups in the Senate

Abstract

How are the laws of the Philippines made? Laws come from the bills approved by congress which they see fit to enhance the lives of the people. In order for congress to be able to know how the people react to the proposed bill, committee hearings are held and various interest groups are invited. These groups are the ones who lobby for and against a bill. There are many interest groups in the country. These groups come from the different sectors such as that of business, labor, private groups, etc. These groups are called to when a bill is ready for deliberations especially if the proposed bill directly affects the sector. Every year there are thousands of bills passed, amended, read and approved into law but little of which has to do with lifting the living standards of the people. The government focuses on bills to improve the third-world status of the country and become globally competitive. This goal of becoming industrialized sacrifices the people. In the hopes to be able to put up capital for the country, the government creates programs beneficial to foreign investors hoping to bring in needed dollars. This benefit to the capitalists are the burden of the masses because it is them who take the toll. There are many interest groups fighting for the rights of the masses but are weak against the big businesses and foreign capitalists who depend on the masses to maintain their wealth. This paper reflects the relation of the masses and the capitalists in the Philippine setting.