Manila, June 2 -- The Senate approved six key measures on Monday as lawmakers reconvened for the final six session days of the 19th Congress.

Among the measures passed was Senate Bill No. (SBN) 890, or the Government Optimization Act, which empowers the President to streamline the executive branch through a five-year rightsizing program aimed at eliminating redundant functions and improving service delivery.

The bill, principally authored by Senate President Francis Escudero, was passed with 22 affirmative votes and no opposition.

Escudero said the bill is not meant to downsize the workforce but to optimize it.

"Rightsizing is about streamlining the bureaucracy... upgrading, upskilling, and upscaling personnel to help them fill up muc...