The leadership of the House of Representatives expressed its gratitude to the media for reporting on truant lawmakers, exposure that apparently shamed some of them into attending sessions and passing several bills in a "record-breaking performance."
House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles expressed thanks to reporters covering the House for reporting and forcing some "136 warm bodies" to show up in last Monday and Tuesday’s session.
Nograles said their presence made history in the 236-man chamber.
The Davao City congressman credited this feat to published and aired news reports that the House was able to pass 27 bills on second reading and 39 more on third and final reading — or a total of 66 laws of national importance.
"It was a record-breaking performance for us here in Congress in the last two days. There were 136 warm bodies who were around to answer the quorum in the last two session days," a very pleased Nograles told reporters.
Nograles clarified though that the House all-party caucus will still push through to discuss the possibility of imposing sanctions against truant lawmakers whose absences have derailed the passage of important pieces of legislation.
Among the important bills they have passed on third reading was House Bill 77, a measure that aims to protect journalists from the print and broadcast industry from harassment.
"The bill provides that libel cases shall only be filed in the regional trial court where the area of the journalist resides or the office of the publication is located," Nograles said.
The bill also provides for the "venue of the criminal and civil action in libel cases" where the persons offended by the articles aired or published should file their libel suits.
Usually, the complainant is allowed to file the libel case anywhere in the country, which could inconvenience and harass the journalist.
Other legislation approved on third reading was the Anti-Drunk Driving Act, the Trees for Legacy Act, Legitimation of Children born to Parents below Marrying Age Act, and Restructuring the Income Taxation for Individuals Act.
The other bills that were passed included Reducing Bureaucratic Red Tape, Establishment of the Cebu Free Port, Establishing a Special Economic Zone and Free Port in the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte and Expanding the Prohibited Acts of Discrimination Against Women, among others.
Nograles is likewise hopeful that other bills that have been certified as urgent by President Arroyo will encounter smoother sailing in Congress.
Since the truant congressmen showed up, there will be no problem reaching a quorum, he said.
Among the urgent bills that will undergo interpellations and sponsorship periods are those providing compensation to some 9,539 human rights victims during the Marcos era, the abolition of the death penalty and the move to hold automated elections next year.
Nograles earlier conceded the House leadership was "indeed facing a serious problem on quorum and that mustering a quorum is indeed becoming a serious problem" in the lower legislative chamber.
"Many members who religiously attend sessions want sanctions against the absentees. Sanctions will be proposed, discussed and voted upon as soon as we agree on a proposal on how to address the chronic problem of quorum," he said.
Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Antonio Cerilles earlier led some lawmakers in urging Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. to impose disciplinary action against their colleagues whose habitual absences have jeopardized the passage of vital bills.
"The Speaker should compel lawmakers to attend to their legislative duties regularly. Since the Constitution talks of equality rule then that should also apply to House members," Cerilles suggested.
Nograles said De Venecia should "make an appeal to House members who seem not interested in attending sessions regularly," as had been earlier pointed out by Quezon Rep. Lorenzo "Erin" Tañada III.
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200606010416.htm
Maybe this the best way to speed up the pending billis...haaay! Ito gusto nyo ha.....
House leaders thank media for exposing absentee lawmakers
!
Reply With Quote
Posting Permissions
