The hard work and diligence of members of the House of Representatives in addressing the various issues and concerns facing the country have paid off, as based on data, of the 7,975 bills and resolutions measures filed since the 17th Congress opened in July 2016, 428 have already been approved, 30 of which were enacted into law.
The committee on rules reported that of the 7,975 measures filed, 1,810 were processed during the 130 session days, or an average of 14 measures per session day.
Of the total number of measures filed, 6,549 are bills and 1,426 are resolutions. Moreover, a total of 420 committee reports were submitted, showing the hard work and dedication of the various House committees in acting on the various measures filed.
The measures filed seek to address the priority concerns of lawmakers such as poverty eradication, public safety and order, justice, gender equality, health, education, protection of women, children and elderly, environmental protection, and rights of Indigenous Peoples, among others.
In his acceptance speech during the House organizational meeting of the 17th Congress on July 25, 2016, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez called on House members to give the President the necessary legislation which will be his tools to effect meaningful and genuine change. “In sum, we too must be instruments of change,” the Speaker said.
Since the Second Regular Session opened last July 24, 2017, seven important bills were already enacted into law. These form part of the 30 measures passed into law this 17th Congress.
These are House Bill 4767 which was enacted into Republic Act 10928 or “An Act Extending The Validity Of Philippine Passports, Amending For The Purpose Section 10 Of RA 8239, Otherwise Known As The “Philippine Passport Act Of 1996”, principally authored by Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo; HB 5525 enacted into RA 10929 or “An Act Establishing The Free Internet Access Program In Public Places In The Country And Appropriating Funds Therefor,” principally authored by Rep. Gus Tambunting; HB 6548 enacted into RA 10930 or “An Act Rationalizing And Strengthening The Policy Regarding Driver’s License By Extending The Validity Period Of Drivers’ Licenses, And Penalizing Acts In Violation Of Its Issuance And Application, Amending For Those Purposes Section 23 Of RA 4136, As Amended By Batas Pambansa Blg. 398 And Executive Order No. 1011, Otherwise Known As The Land Transportation And Traffic Code,” principally authored by Rep. Cesar Sarmiento; HB 5633 enacted as RA 10931 or “An Act Promoting Universal Access To Quality Tertiary Education By Providing For Free Tuition And Other School Fees In State Universities And Colleges And State-Run Technical-Vocational Institutions, Strengthening The Unified Student Financial Assistance System,” principally authored by Rep. Ann Hofer; HB 5159 enacted as RA 10932 or “An Act Strengthening The Provision Of Emergency Health Care Service To Patients, Further Amending For The Purpose Batas Pambansa Bilang 702, As Amended, Entitled An Act Prohibiting The Demand Of Deposits Or Advanced Payments For The Confinement Or Treatment Of Patients In Hospitals And Medical Clinics In Certain Cases," principally authored by Rep. Tom Villarin; HB 5513 enacted into RA 10951 or “An Act Adjusting The Amount Or The Value Of Property And Damage On Which A Penalty Is Based, And The Fines Imposed Under The Revised Penal Code, Amending For The Purpose Act No. 3815, Otherwise Known As The Revised Penal Code, As Amended,” principally authored by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez; HB 6308 enacted into RA 10952 or “An Act Postponing The October 23, 2017 Synchronized Barangay And Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, Amending For The Purpose RA 9164, As Amended By RA 9340, RA 10656 And RA 10923,” principally authored by Rep. Robert Barbers.
Meanwhile, a total of 289 bills were approved on third and final reading since the 17th Congress convened, consisting of 100 national bills, 187 local bills and two Joint Resolutions.
Of the 100 national bills, 48 were approved since the start of the Second Regular Session. Among these bills are : House Bill 5811 or the proposed “An Act Providing For A Magna Carta Of The Poor,” principally authored by Rep. Raul del Mar; HB 6215 the proposed “An Act Appropriating Funds For The Operation Of The Government Of The Republic Of The Philippines From January 1 To December 31, 2018” (Certified Urgent Bill) by Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles; HB 6221 or the proposed “An Act Establishing The Filipino Identification System” by Rep. Sol Aragones; HB 4982 or the proposed “An Act Prohibiting Discrimination On The Basis Of Sexual Orientation Or Gender Identity Or Expression (SOGIE) And Providing Penalties Therefor” by Rep. Kaka Bag-ao; HB 5745 or the proposed “An Act Establishing The Coconut Farmers And Industry Development Trust Fund And Providing For Its Management And Utilization” by Rep. Jose Panganiban, Jr.; HB 5777 or the proposed “An Act Strengthening The National And Local Health And Nutrition Programs For Pregnant And Lactating Women, Adolescent Girls Of Reproductive Age And Teen-Age Mothers, Infants And Young Children In The First 1,000 Days” by Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar; HB 5784 or the proposed “An Act Providing For A Universal Health Coverage For Filipinos And Appropriating Funds Therefor” by Rep. Angelina Tan; HB 6112 or the proposed “An Act Mandating The Installation Of Safety Monitoring Devices In Public Utility Vehicles And Providing Penalties For Violation Thereof” by Rep. Mariano Michael Velarde, Jr.; HB 5707 or the proposed “An Act Rightsizing The National Government To Improve Public Service Delivery” by Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles; HB 5685 or the proposed “An Act Instituting The Magna Carta Of Filipino Seafarers” ; and HB 6152 or the Proposed “An Act Increasing The Normal Work Hours Per Day Under A Compressed Work Week Scheme, Amending Articles 83,87 And 91 Of Presidential Decree No. 442, As Amended, Otherwise Known As The Labor Code Of The Philippines” by Rep. Mark Go.
The approved joint resolution on third reading is Joint Resolution 15 “Authorizing The National Housing Authority To Award To Other Qualified Beneficiaries The Unawarded Housing Units In The Armed Forces Of The Philippines (AFP)/Philippine National Police (PNP)/Bureau Of Fire Protection (BFP)/ Bureau Of Jail Management And Penology (BJMP)/Bureau Of Corrections (BuCor) housing projects, awarded housing units that are not yet occupied and whose ownership and possession are surrendered by their respective awardees, and housing units whose respective awards were cancelled by reason of default in the payment of amortization or for any violation of the terms and conditions of the individual loan agreement in accordance with existing laws.”
Meanwhile, 16 bills have been approved on Second Reading during the Second Regular Session. Two of these are national bills: House Bill 1530 or the proposed “An Act Requiring Government Agencies To Indicate The Blood Type Of Individuals In The Identification Cards, Certificates And Licenses,” principally authored by Rep. Alexandria Gonzales; and HB 6396 or the proposed “An Act Instituting Policies For The Protection And Welfare Of Caregivers In The Practice Of Their Profession” by Rep. Geraldine Roman.
At the bicameral conference committee, two House bills are currently being reconciled with their counterpart Senate bills. These are House Bill 5670 principally authored by Rep. Jose Panganiban, Jr. titled “An Act Strengthening Assistance To All Farmers By Providing Free Irrigation Service Fee And All Other Similar Or Related Fees Or Charges, Amending For The Purpose Certain Provisions Of Republic Act No. 3601, As Amended By Presidential Decree No. 552, Presidential Decree No. 1702, Otherwise Known As The National Irrigation Administration Act And Republic Act No. 8435, Otherwise Known As Agricultural And Fisheries Modernization Act, And Appropriating Funds Therefor”; and HB 6016 titled “An Act Regulating The Issuance, Use And Redemption Of Gift Checks, Gift Certificates And Gift Cards” principally authored by Rep. Winston Castelo.
So far, 81 resolutions were already adopted during the 17th Congress, as follows: 65 Regular Resolutions; eight Concurrent Resolutions; four Reports on Inquiries, in Aid of Legislation; two Resolutions of Both Houses; one Report of the Committee of the Whole; and one Report on Impeachment.
Of the four adopted Reports on Inquiries, two were adopted during the Second Regular Session: Committee Report 398 titled “Report: Motu Proprio Investigation, In Aid Of Legislation, On The Alleged Smuggling Of High Grade ꞌshabuꞌ Through The Express Lane Of The Bureau Of Customs; and Committee Report 399 titled “Report: On The 6.4 Billion Peso Worth Of Shabu Seized By The Bureau Of Customs” based on House Resolution 1054 filed by Rep. Wes Gatchalian and HR 1057 by Rep. Robert Ace Barbers. / RBB
The committee on rules reported that of the 7,975 measures filed, 1,810 were processed during the 130 session days, or an average of 14 measures per session day.
Of the total number of measures filed, 6,549 are bills and 1,426 are resolutions. Moreover, a total of 420 committee reports were submitted, showing the hard work and dedication of the various House committees in acting on the various measures filed.
The measures filed seek to address the priority concerns of lawmakers such as poverty eradication, public safety and order, justice, gender equality, health, education, protection of women, children and elderly, environmental protection, and rights of Indigenous Peoples, among others.
In his acceptance speech during the House organizational meeting of the 17th Congress on July 25, 2016, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez called on House members to give the President the necessary legislation which will be his tools to effect meaningful and genuine change. “In sum, we too must be instruments of change,” the Speaker said.
Since the Second Regular Session opened last July 24, 2017, seven important bills were already enacted into law. These form part of the 30 measures passed into law this 17th Congress.
These are House Bill 4767 which was enacted into Republic Act 10928 or “An Act Extending The Validity Of Philippine Passports, Amending For The Purpose Section 10 Of RA 8239, Otherwise Known As The “Philippine Passport Act Of 1996”, principally authored by Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo; HB 5525 enacted into RA 10929 or “An Act Establishing The Free Internet Access Program In Public Places In The Country And Appropriating Funds Therefor,” principally authored by Rep. Gus Tambunting; HB 6548 enacted into RA 10930 or “An Act Rationalizing And Strengthening The Policy Regarding Driver’s License By Extending The Validity Period Of Drivers’ Licenses, And Penalizing Acts In Violation Of Its Issuance And Application, Amending For Those Purposes Section 23 Of RA 4136, As Amended By Batas Pambansa Blg. 398 And Executive Order No. 1011, Otherwise Known As The Land Transportation And Traffic Code,” principally authored by Rep. Cesar Sarmiento; HB 5633 enacted as RA 10931 or “An Act Promoting Universal Access To Quality Tertiary Education By Providing For Free Tuition And Other School Fees In State Universities And Colleges And State-Run Technical-Vocational Institutions, Strengthening The Unified Student Financial Assistance System,” principally authored by Rep. Ann Hofer; HB 5159 enacted as RA 10932 or “An Act Strengthening The Provision Of Emergency Health Care Service To Patients, Further Amending For The Purpose Batas Pambansa Bilang 702, As Amended, Entitled An Act Prohibiting The Demand Of Deposits Or Advanced Payments For The Confinement Or Treatment Of Patients In Hospitals And Medical Clinics In Certain Cases," principally authored by Rep. Tom Villarin; HB 5513 enacted into RA 10951 or “An Act Adjusting The Amount Or The Value Of Property And Damage On Which A Penalty Is Based, And The Fines Imposed Under The Revised Penal Code, Amending For The Purpose Act No. 3815, Otherwise Known As The Revised Penal Code, As Amended,” principally authored by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez; HB 6308 enacted into RA 10952 or “An Act Postponing The October 23, 2017 Synchronized Barangay And Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, Amending For The Purpose RA 9164, As Amended By RA 9340, RA 10656 And RA 10923,” principally authored by Rep. Robert Barbers.
Meanwhile, a total of 289 bills were approved on third and final reading since the 17th Congress convened, consisting of 100 national bills, 187 local bills and two Joint Resolutions.
Of the 100 national bills, 48 were approved since the start of the Second Regular Session. Among these bills are : House Bill 5811 or the proposed “An Act Providing For A Magna Carta Of The Poor,” principally authored by Rep. Raul del Mar; HB 6215 the proposed “An Act Appropriating Funds For The Operation Of The Government Of The Republic Of The Philippines From January 1 To December 31, 2018” (Certified Urgent Bill) by Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles; HB 6221 or the proposed “An Act Establishing The Filipino Identification System” by Rep. Sol Aragones; HB 4982 or the proposed “An Act Prohibiting Discrimination On The Basis Of Sexual Orientation Or Gender Identity Or Expression (SOGIE) And Providing Penalties Therefor” by Rep. Kaka Bag-ao; HB 5745 or the proposed “An Act Establishing The Coconut Farmers And Industry Development Trust Fund And Providing For Its Management And Utilization” by Rep. Jose Panganiban, Jr.; HB 5777 or the proposed “An Act Strengthening The National And Local Health And Nutrition Programs For Pregnant And Lactating Women, Adolescent Girls Of Reproductive Age And Teen-Age Mothers, Infants And Young Children In The First 1,000 Days” by Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar; HB 5784 or the proposed “An Act Providing For A Universal Health Coverage For Filipinos And Appropriating Funds Therefor” by Rep. Angelina Tan; HB 6112 or the proposed “An Act Mandating The Installation Of Safety Monitoring Devices In Public Utility Vehicles And Providing Penalties For Violation Thereof” by Rep. Mariano Michael Velarde, Jr.; HB 5707 or the proposed “An Act Rightsizing The National Government To Improve Public Service Delivery” by Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles; HB 5685 or the proposed “An Act Instituting The Magna Carta Of Filipino Seafarers” ; and HB 6152 or the Proposed “An Act Increasing The Normal Work Hours Per Day Under A Compressed Work Week Scheme, Amending Articles 83,87 And 91 Of Presidential Decree No. 442, As Amended, Otherwise Known As The Labor Code Of The Philippines” by Rep. Mark Go.
The approved joint resolution on third reading is Joint Resolution 15 “Authorizing The National Housing Authority To Award To Other Qualified Beneficiaries The Unawarded Housing Units In The Armed Forces Of The Philippines (AFP)/Philippine National Police (PNP)/Bureau Of Fire Protection (BFP)/ Bureau Of Jail Management And Penology (BJMP)/Bureau Of Corrections (BuCor) housing projects, awarded housing units that are not yet occupied and whose ownership and possession are surrendered by their respective awardees, and housing units whose respective awards were cancelled by reason of default in the payment of amortization or for any violation of the terms and conditions of the individual loan agreement in accordance with existing laws.”
Meanwhile, 16 bills have been approved on Second Reading during the Second Regular Session. Two of these are national bills: House Bill 1530 or the proposed “An Act Requiring Government Agencies To Indicate The Blood Type Of Individuals In The Identification Cards, Certificates And Licenses,” principally authored by Rep. Alexandria Gonzales; and HB 6396 or the proposed “An Act Instituting Policies For The Protection And Welfare Of Caregivers In The Practice Of Their Profession” by Rep. Geraldine Roman.
At the bicameral conference committee, two House bills are currently being reconciled with their counterpart Senate bills. These are House Bill 5670 principally authored by Rep. Jose Panganiban, Jr. titled “An Act Strengthening Assistance To All Farmers By Providing Free Irrigation Service Fee And All Other Similar Or Related Fees Or Charges, Amending For The Purpose Certain Provisions Of Republic Act No. 3601, As Amended By Presidential Decree No. 552, Presidential Decree No. 1702, Otherwise Known As The National Irrigation Administration Act And Republic Act No. 8435, Otherwise Known As Agricultural And Fisheries Modernization Act, And Appropriating Funds Therefor”; and HB 6016 titled “An Act Regulating The Issuance, Use And Redemption Of Gift Checks, Gift Certificates And Gift Cards” principally authored by Rep. Winston Castelo.
So far, 81 resolutions were already adopted during the 17th Congress, as follows: 65 Regular Resolutions; eight Concurrent Resolutions; four Reports on Inquiries, in Aid of Legislation; two Resolutions of Both Houses; one Report of the Committee of the Whole; and one Report on Impeachment.
Of the four adopted Reports on Inquiries, two were adopted during the Second Regular Session: Committee Report 398 titled “Report: Motu Proprio Investigation, In Aid Of Legislation, On The Alleged Smuggling Of High Grade ꞌshabuꞌ Through The Express Lane Of The Bureau Of Customs; and Committee Report 399 titled “Report: On The 6.4 Billion Peso Worth Of Shabu Seized By The Bureau Of Customs” based on House Resolution 1054 filed by Rep. Wes Gatchalian and HR 1057 by Rep. Robert Ace Barbers. / RBB
