Fruitful, politically painful year for House

Editor’s note: In the first part of this yearend report on the House of Representatives, the article reported the achievements and challenges faced by congressmen in 2009. Following is the continuation of the list of vital measures that were enacted into law during the Third Regular Session. Conclusion

R.A. 9708—Adjusting the requirements on education and for promotion in the Philippine National Police, amending for the purpose R.A. 8551, or the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998, authored by Rep. Rodolfo Antonino of Nueva Ecija, sponsored by the Committee on Public Order chaired by Antonino himself; and

R.A. 9700—Sustaining the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), extending the acquisition and distribution of all agricultural lands, instituting necessary reforms, authored by Reps. Edcel Lagman, Junie Cua of Quirino, Abraham Khalil Mitra of Palawan, Elias Bulut Jr. of Apayao, Reno Lim of Albay and Riza Hontiveros of Akbayan party-list, sponsored by the Committees on Agrarian Reform and Appropriations.

Also, House Joint Resolution 36 was enacted into law on June 17, 2009, modifying the Compensation and Position Classification System in the government and implemented the same initially effective on July 1, 2009.

Another vital measure, House Joint Resolution 48 which authorized the use of the Unprogrammed Fund not exceeding P12-billion for the relief, operations, rehabilitation, reconstruction and other services to areas affected by natural calamities (tropical storm Ondoy, Typhoon Pepeng, etc.)

Now under review by the President are the following conference committee reports ratified by the House:

House Bill 6767—2010 General Appropriations Act;

House Bill 5618/Senate Bill 3429—Authorizing the issuance of Free Patent Title for Residential land;

House Bill 5649/Senate Bill 3286—Improving the standards of protection and assistance for migrant workers;

House Bill 6076/Senate Bill 1598—Expanding the promotion of breastfeeding;

House Bill 4253/Senate Bill 3482—Creating a National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, defining its powers, functions and responsibilities and appropriating funds;

House Bill 6733/Senate Bill 3014—Providing for the protection and conservation of the National Cultural Heritage, strengthening the national cultural agencies;

House Bill 6899/Senate Bill 3220—Amending Section 6 . . . etc . . . of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, allowing the exchange of information by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on tax matters pursuant to the internationally agreed Tax Standards and for other purposes;

House Bill 5210/Senate Bill 3392—Exempting certain transactions from the Value-added tax;

House Bill 6095/Senate Bill 3431—Providing for an Agricultural and Agrarian Reform Credit and Financing System through Banking Institutions;

House Bill 6017—Grating tax relief to the Life Insurance Industry by abolishing the Documentary Stamp Tax and Premium Tax on Life Insurance;

House Bill 515/Senate Bill 3389—Transferring the Philippine Coast Guard to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) as an attached agency and redefining it organization and personnel administration;

House Bill 6517/Senate Bill 2357—Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009;

House Bill 6820/Senate Bill 1620—Granting additional retirement, survivorship, and other benefits to member of the judiciary;

House Bill 6633/Senate Bill 2669—Philippine Act on Crimes against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and other crimes against humanity;

House Bill 6112/Senate Bill 1980—creating three additional branches of the Regional Trial Court in South Cotabato;

House Bill 5922/Senate Bill 2454—Granting the Social Security System (SSS) a one time authority to condone penalties on unremitted or delinquent contributions by employers;

House Bill 6516/Senate Bill 3288—Declaring Arnis as the Philippine National Sport;

House Bill 5279/Senate Bill 3111—Providing for legitimizing children born to parents below marrying age, amending for the purpose the Family Code of the Philippines;

House Bill 50/Senate Bill 3106—Providing for the Magna Cart for Homeowners Associations;

House Bill 6400/Senate Bill 3283—Declaring the 10th Day of Zhul Hijja, the 12th Month of the Hijrah Calendar a National Holiday for the observance of Eid’l Adha; and

House Bill 6379/Senate Bill 2639—Providing the Legal Framework for Real Estate Investments Trusts.

From July 23, 2007 to December 18, 2009, (first, second and third regular sessions of the Fourteenth Congress), there were 7,093 bills filed and 1,634 resolutions filed for a grand total of 8,727 measures.

From those measures, 2,571 Committee Reports were produced by the different standing and special committees.

From 2007 to December 18, 2009, some 342 measures were enacted into law, 65 of which of national scope, 272 of local application and five were House joint resolutions. Some 1,122 were approved on third reading (186, national; 930, local; one House Concurrent Resolution) and are pending in the Senate.

Some 1,069 resolutions were adopted, excluding three reports on privilege speeches, for a total of 4,449 measures processed.

As of December 18, some 20 measures were under the “unfinished business,” and 24 other measures fall under the classification “business for the day,” which the Committee on Rules chaired by Majority Leader Defensor said were up for plenary consideration until the last day of session of the 14th Congress before the May 2010 campaign period.

“There is great hope,” House Speaker Prospero Nograles. “We must keep our faith in God and in ourselves. We have to work harder and keep praying. Happy New Year to all.” –THE MANILA TIMES