Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. vowed to lead the House of Representatives in expediting its legislative work this year to support national government efforts in fighting corruption, promoting good governance and ensuring accountability.
"We will surely pick up our pace and move forward in our legislative work, although the journey will not be easy. Our moves must be both focused and united. We need to maximize the use of all available resources to rebuild our devastated regions. We are each called upon to work harder, and that we will do," the Speaker said.
Belmonte, who is also the honorary chairperson of the National Unity Party (NUP), said the House remained focused on its lawmaking tasks, despite the various challenges and controversies it had faced in the past year.
Before lawmakers returned to their respective constituencies for the Christmas break in 2013, the House Secretariat reported receiving 3,539 House Bills– 2,484 of national application and 1,055 of local application. Of these House Bills, 3,501 have been referred to the appropriate standing and special committees for proper consideration when Congress resumes session on January 20, 2014.
Among the various measures approved or in the advanced stages at the Committee level, are the Anti-Dynasty bill, the proposed Freedom of Information Act, the Land Administration Reform measure, the political party reform bill, the bill updating the antiquated Immigration Law, as well as pro-competition and anti-monopoly measures and other economic, trade, and investment laws, Belmonte noted.
Other bills and resolutions in the pipeline are those that cover equally pressing matters such as labor and employment, climate change, youth and human resource development, science and technology, education, human rights, infrastructure, housing and urban development, agriculture and land reform, transportation and communications, energy development, foreign affairs and diplomacy, and national security.
The Speaker said that “strong determination is needed for lawmakers to craft the necessary laws and policies” that will effectively assist the “common fight against corruption and promote good governance through transparency and accountability in public office.”
Belmonte acknowledged the hard work and cooperation of the Deputy Speakers—Roberto Puno, Henedina Abad, Giorgidi Aggabao, Sergio Apostol, Pangalian Balindong and Carlos Padilla—as well as Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales and the Deputy and Assistant Majority Leaders; Appropriations Chairman Isidro Ungab, his Vice Chairmen and members of the Appropriations Committee.
Belmonte likewise expressed appreciation to the members of the Minority group led by Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora and the independent bloc led by Hon. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez for their critical cooperation which proved vital to fine-tuning legislative measures. He also acknowledged the active participation and valuable inputs of members of the party-list groups.
"I thank the Members of the House for their patient dedication and for their individual contributions in crafting significant legislation," Belmonte said.
Belmonte noted that 2013 was a year that “tested the Filipino people's grit and resolve to weather challenges faced as a nation, foremost being the extreme devastation caused by a chain of natural calamities which hit several parts of our country.”
Before Congress adjourned for the Christmas break, the Speaker declared, "We have what it takes to positively alter our paradigms, view these as challenges before us and see them as a chance to emerge renewed as one people. We must look up from these tragedies and use them as opportunities to further societal reforms.”
Belmonte cited the MNLF Zamboanga siege, the Bohol earthquake, the series of tropical storms that hit Luzon and Mindanao, and supertyphoon “Yolanda,” which left more than 6,000 dead and over a thousand more still missing, as among these challenges.
To help the rebuild communities devastated by these calamities, the Senate and the House approved a supplemental budget realigning the remaining unreleased portion of the lawmakers' 2013 Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), amounting to P14.6-billion, before Congress adjourned for its traditional Christmas break last year.
To further bolster government efforts to rebuild calamity-hit areas, both chambers of Congress ratified House Joint Resolution No. 7, which extended the validity of appropriations under the Calamity Fund and Quick Response Fund and all unobligated allotments and unreleased appropriations for maintenance and other operating expenses and capital outlays under Republic Act No. 10352 or the FY 2013 General Appropriations Act until December 31, 2014.