Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago has maintained her position as the Senate’s top performer, filing more bills and resolutions than any other senator in 2009.

Based on data collected from the Senate’s Legislative Bills and Index Service, Santiago filed 321 bills in 2009, which is almost double the output second placer Lito Lapid (183), and third placer Antonio Trillanes IV (164).

The number brings Santiago’s output to a total of 834 bills and resolutions in the 14th Congress, which is even higher than her performance at the end of the 13th Congress in 2007 when she authored 652 legislative measures.

Most of the bills authored by Santiago, who chairs the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, helped placed the country at the level of other developed nations on the issue of human rights and climate change.

She authored the recently passed RA 9851, or the International Humanitarian Law, RA 9729 or the Climate Change Act, RA 9646 or the Real Estate Service Act.

Santiago also co-authored and sponsored important laws such as the Archipelagic Baselines Law, which was passed in compliance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS, and delineates the base points of the Philippine territory.

To counter the effects of climate change, she co-authored the Renewable Energy Act or RA 9513 which deals with energy conservation and promotes the development, utilization, and commercialization of renewable energy sources.

Republic Act 9367 or the Biofuels Act, on the other hand, mandates the use of biofuel in gasoline, and establishes a national biofuel program.

The law not only seeks to protect the environment from pollution and hazardous emissions but also to reduce the country’s dependence on imported oil by harnessing green sources of energy.

Santiago was also instrumental in the passing of the Anti-Billboard act which regulates the billboard industry and limits the size and height of outdoor advertising materials in order to protect the general public from danger during heavy storms and earthquakes.

The bill was initially proposed by Santiago in the wake of typhoon Milenyo in 2006 where millions worth of properties were affected by substandard billboards that failed to withstand the heavy winds brought on by the calamity.

Among the controversial events of 2009 was the Hayden Kho sex video scandal which spread like wildfire on the internet and on pirated DVDs.

Prior to the scandal, Santiago had authored the Anti-Video Voyeurism Bill, which aims to protect human dignity and privacy by criminalizing photo and video voyeurism.

A staunch supporter of women’s rights, she also co-authored RA 9710 or the Magna Carta for Women.

The senator also led in the ratification of international treaties on the protection of migrant workers and environment, measures against corruption, and disaster management and emergency response.