Secretary of the Senate of the Philippines
The secretary of the Senate of the Philippines is an officer of the Senate of the Philippines. The secretary is an elected official among the staff of the Senate, responsible for helping the Senate president provide efficient legislative and administrative support to the offices of the senators, managing the affairs of the Senate Secretariat, inclusive of all the offices, service units, officers, and employees, acting as its central clearinghouse, and developing strategic plans and policies for the enhancement of the Senate's professionalism.
The first secretary was Felipe Buencamino Jr., serving in the upper chamber of the fourth Philippine Legislature from the Senate's establishment in 1916 until 1917.
The current secretary of the Senate is Mark Llandro Mendoza, serving since the [20th Congress of the Philippines|Congress of the Philippines|20th Congress].
Powers and duties
According to Rule V, Section 7 of the Rules of the Senate, the duties and powers of the Secretary are:- For the inaugural session of the Congress, to prepare the Order of Business of the Senate which shall include:
- * A Resolution informing the President of the Philippines that the Senate has been organized and has elected its President, President Pro Tempore, Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms;
- * A Resolution informing the House of Representatives that the Senate has been organized and has elected its President, President Pro Tempore, Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms;
- * A Concurrent Resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives providing for a joint session to hear the State of the Nation Address of the President of the Philippines;
- * A Concurrent Resolution authorizing the appointment of a joint committee of both Houses to inform the President of the Philippines that Congress, in joint session, is ready to receive his State of the Nation Address;
- To attend the sessions of the Senate;
- To open, whenever there is neither a President nor a President Pro Tempore, the first session in which the Senators elected in the immediately preceding regular elections shall participate, and to announce that the business in order is the designation of the temporary President;
- To keep a Record and Journal of the proceedings of the Senate, and to certify them himself;
- To prepare and distribute the calendars of the Senate;
- To publish and distribute the Journal and Record of the Senate;
- To serve as custodian of all the records of the Senate;
- To certify all measures, orders and resolutions approved by the Senate and to stamp them with its official seal which shall also be under his custody;
- To appoint, whenever expressly authorized by the Senate, the necessary subordinate personnel thereof;
- To be responsible for the strict compliance by the Senate personnel with their duties, upon whom he may impose, for just cause, corrective or disciplinary measures including a recommendation to the President for their dismissal;
- To administer oath as a Notary ex officio of the Senate; and
- To perform other duties inherent in his office although not specified in these Rules.