public relations and information department publishing and design ... · on privilege speeches, and...

Public Relations and Information DepartmentPublishing and Design Service

House of RepresentativesConstitution Hills, Quezon City, Metro Manila

Tel. (+632) 9315335 and (+632) 9315001 ext. 7651 / 7552.

Entered as second class mail matter at the Batasan Pambansa Post Office. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1656-5142

ON THE COVER

Top Speaker Jose de Venecia (Photo by Perfecto Camero/PRID)

Bottom, from left Deputy Speakers Emilio R. Espinosa Jr., Raul V. del Mar, Abdulgani A.Salapudin, and Eric D. Singson, Majority Leader Prospero C. Nograles, and Minority Leader FrancisJoseph G. Escudero

Cover art by Waldemar Alvarez/PRID

JOSE DE VENECIA JR.Speaker

House of Representatives

ForewordAt the opening of the Second Regular

Session in July 2005, I said that the13th Congress was in the midst of a politicalcrisis, and that the fateful decisions wefaced would be of inestimable importanceto our nation.

This Session was defined by suchdecisions.

There has never been a year in ourrecent past when every member of theHouse of Representative was called uponto vote his conscience on many hotlydivisive issues. In full view of the nation—and before audiences in many countries ofthe globe where Filipino communities havegrown—we faced the toughest moments inlegislative decision-making.

We debated the big issues—oftenacrimoniously; we sharply differed in ourviews on how best to achieve sustainedeconomic growth and political stability; webatted for reforms, aware that before suchideas could gain acceptance, they gothrough the gauntlet of criticism andscrutiny. But always, in this noisy democracyof ours, we forged consensus from thewelter of clashing ideas and voices.

In a time of hyped-up politicaldifferences, the leadership of the Housenever wavered from acting with a deepunderstanding of the nation’s priorities—that the only way to go with reforms waswith deliberate speed to put the nation backon track.

The bid to impeach the President—although intensely debated for weeks—wasdecisively beaten by a huge majority in asession that was telecast live and intenselywatched by the nation in its full 23-hourlength—itself an unprecedented momentin our history.

We went beyond partisan skirmishesto craft an Anti-Terrorism Law with enoughteeth—and make the Philippines adependable ally in the global coalition tofight organized terror.

We scrapped the death penalty tomake our justice system more humane. Wepassed the nation’s first trillion-peso budgeton time—only to be halted by an obdurateSenate.

Government reform is one continuingkey task we have doggedly pursued. Weintroduced the streamlining of bureaucraticprocedures, clearer guidelines forgovernment workers, more information forthe public, heavier penalties for

malfeasance, and more incentives for goodgovernance.

We anticipated the need for alternativefuels and the need to shore up the integrityof the natural environment. We threw ourfavor to victims of human rights abuses andacted to prevent the future occurrence ofsuch atrocities. We saw to it that society’sdisadvantaged sectors will have a palpablemeasure of support in law.

Best of all, we wavered not a bit in ourresolve to usher in the mother of allreforms, the historically and politicallycompelling shift to a unicameral,parliamentary and federal system ofgovernment. Regrettably, our sense ofurgency found little sympathy in the Senate.But we are not giving up.

This House, although exposed to theextreme forces of politics, has firmly keptto the center to act on the country’s mostpressing concerns. Our actions anddecisions remain rooted in the best interestsof the Filipino.

I thank my colleagues for theirsteadfast support in accomplishing ourlegislative agenda so far—and the officialsand staff of the Secretariat for theirinvaluable help every step of the way.

2

From its start, the Second Regular Session wasmarked by a deepening sense of urgency for the House

to put in order the nation’s priorities and bring thecountry squarely into the path of vital reforms.

In early September 2005, the House rejected twoimpeachment complaints against President GloriaMacapagal Arroyo in a marathon 23-hour plenary session,the longest ever in Congress’ history, live on television.

With conviction, the House voted 158 against 51,with six abstentions, to finally dismiss the impeachmentcomplaints initiated in July, dousing serious attemptsto cause further division in public opinion.

The process of weighing the arguments forimpeachment took away time and attention on vitalmeasures intended to alleviate the more pressing issuesof poverty, food, jobs, wages, education, health, peaceand order, and public governance.

Immediately after resolving the matter of thepresidential impeachment, Speaker Jose de Veneciamoved to galvanize effective consensus on the nationalagenda, urging House Members to set aside differencesand tackle pending priorities, topped by the Anti-Terrorism Bill, the proposed trillion-peso GeneralAppropriations Act, and the “mother of all reforms,” theamendment of the 1987 Constitution to shift to aunicameral and parliamentary government and endseventy years of a flawed bicameral presidential system.

House of RepresentativesAccomplishment ReportSecond Regular Session

(July 2005 - June 2006)

Urgent concerns, decisive actionPowerhouse

By the close of the Second Regular Session. HouseMembers filed a record 5,537 bills—2,469 of nationalsignificance and 3,068 for local purposes—of which5,518 have been referred to various committees.

The urgency pervading the lawmaking process borefruition on its passage of 883 bills. Of these, 14 wereenacted or had lapsed into law. The remaining 838bills were approved on third reading, with 824 bills—many of them of urgent national concern—still pendingat the Senate. Six bills are awaiting Presidential action.

Members filed 1,284 resolutions, 1,110 of whichwere referred to various committees, and 173 of whichwere adopted by the House; and 32 concurrentresolutions and 17 joint resolutions.

Of the 14 bills that became law, nine were enactedduring the Second Regular Session.

The measures approved on third reading areconsistent with the House’s thrust towards establishingenvironmental safeguards, providing expanded housingopportunities, reforming tax administration, streamliningthe bureaucracy to promote good government,strengthening the delivery of basic services, andadvancing local development.

Committee workAll in all, the 57 standing committees and 16 special

committees acted on 5,244 bills from July 2004 to June2006. Approximately 70 percent of this total was referredduring the Second Regular Session. There were 1,757committee reports (CRs) that were filed from July 2004up to June 2006, 811 of which were filed during thereport period. These proposals include 85 CRs on billsof national application, 476 CRs on bills of localapplication, 246 CRs on various resolutions, three CRson privilege speeches, and one CR on a letter-complaint.

The Committee Affairs Department assisted 741committee meetings/public hearings during the reportperiod, which included 689 meetings held in-house orwithin Metro Manila, 25 meetings held outside thecapital, 17 ocular inspections and 10 bicameralconference committee meetings. Also conducted were268 technical working meetings.

SEVEN QUESTIONS. Rep. Edcel Lagman enumerates seven veryrelevant questions or issues he says must first be debated upon andresolved to determine which complaint or complaints shall be subject tothe jurisdiction of the Justice Committee during the Impeachmenthearings. Reps. Simeon Datumanong and Eduardo Gullas flank Lagman.

3

New lawsFive significant bills of national application became

law during the Second Regular Session.As an urgent social amelioration measure, HB 3356,

later RA 9341, or the Rental Reform Act, provides “safetynets” for the most vulnerable among our people—theurban poor. Extended for three years more from January1, 2005 to December 31, 2007, this Act immediatelybenefited millions of daily-wage and low-salaried earnerswho are not yet in a financial position to own a houseor lot and are renting in urban centers near to theirplaces of work. This law protects them from unreasonableincreases in their rental expenses.

The law covers all residential units in the NationalCapital Region and other urban cities with rentals notexceeding P7,500 and residential units in all other areaswith rentals not exceeding P4,000. Rent eats up 13.6percent—or the second-largest share—in the familybudget. More than 1.5 million households or roughly10.1 percent of the 15.3 million households in thecountry rent their dwelling units, the highest in theNCR with 32 percent of households that rent.

HB 5065, now RA 9344, provides special protectionto children in conflict with the law (CICL) and establishesa comprehensive juvenile justice system. It emphasizes“restorative justice” and rehabilitation in halfway housesand centers for offenders under 18 years old—unlessthey have acted with discernment—versus jail, wherethey are mixed with hard-core adult inmates in congestedcells and sub-human conditions. The passage of thislaw, expected to dismiss at least 70 percent of courtcases currently filed against minors, was hailed by bothgovernment and non-government sectors involved in thepromotion of children’s rights, as well as by internationalorganizations.

The House also voted overwhelmingly with dispatchon HB 4826, later RA 9346, in favor of prohibiting theimposition of the death penalty. Authors of the billcited the “anti-poor” qualities and “brutalizing effects”of the death penalty in scrapping it, a decision welcomedby human rights and religious groups.

By approving HB 4066, or RA 9343, the Houseamended the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) Act of 2002to extend the period for setting up SPVs and availing ofincentives for setting up special purpose vehicles toliquidate non-performing assets of financial institutions.

On the political front, HB 3742 seeking to resetthe barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections toMay 2008, effectively extending the term of incumbentoffice holders, became RA 9340. The new election datewould save the country from further political divisionand around P2.5 billion in election-related expenses,the House leadership noted.

Top concernsThe House managed to gain consensus on major

legislative concerns in the Second Regular Session,namely, the trillion-peso national budget, the Anti-Terrorism Act, and the opening of plenary debates,marked by much color and passion, on the concurrentresolution seeking to amend the 1987 Constitution,specifically to transform the structure of government toa unicameral, parliamentary system in a bid to enddecades of the present bicameral, presidential and unitarysystem prone to gridlock and slow policy-making.

The proposed Anti-Terrorism Act, or HB 4839, leadsthe priority bills approved on third reading and currentlypending in the Senate, closely followed by HB 4629, orthe Bioethanol Fuel Act. HB 4839 spells out acts ofterror and prescribes the conditions by which awarrantless arrest and detention can be done in thecourse of ferreting out terrorists. HB 4629 responds tothe worldwide clamor to find alternatives to fossil fuels,prompted by continually rising oil prices. The bill aimsto reduce the country’s dependence on imported oil bydeveloping production of environment-friendly fuels fromplants, such as ethanol from sugarcane and grain, to beproportionally mixed with standard gasoline.

A mangled budgetHowever, at the adjournment of the Second Regular

Session, Speaker de Venecia called the Senate’s“mangling” of the General Appropriations Act, or the2006 National Budget, as the tragic “triumph of political

DEATH NO MORE. Speaker Jose de Venecia, with new Apostolic Nuncioto the Philippines, H.E. Most Rev. Fernando Filoni, who paid the Speakerand the House membership a courtesy call during a plenary break, holdsa copy of the conference committee report on the abolition of the deathpenalty in the country following its ratification by the House last June 6.Also shown are (from left) Deputy Speaker Raul del Mar with Reps.Eduardo Veloso, Augusto Baculio (partly hidden) Luis Villafuerte, EdcelLagman (principal author and sponsor), Simeon Kintanar and ConstantinoJaraula.

NO TO TERROR. Rep. Simeon Datumanong, Chairman of the JusticeCommittee, defends the consolidated Anti-Terrorism Bill, or House Bill4839, in plenary, alongside Rep. Marcelino Libanan. Seen seated at leftare Reps. Eduardo Gullas and Antonio Cuenco, chairman of the ForeignAffairs Committee, who helped draft the final version.

4

expediency.” The House contingentto the bicameral conferencecommittee refused to allow theSenators to cut P64-billion from theproposed P1.053-trillion budget thatresulted in the cancellation of long-anticipated programs to build

infrastructure, create jobs, encourage ruralentrepreneurship and rebuild the peace where this ismost needed.

The Senate deleted, among other things, the P5-billion Kilos Asenso fund (the government program whichmakes funds available for agri-businessmen), theKalayaan Barangay fund, and other appropriationsintended to finance grassroots economic programs.

“With an unprecedented P129 billion in [proposed]new spending, the 2006 Budget represented the country’sbest chance to make irreversible moves that couldjumpstart the moribund economy,” noted Rep. Joey SarteSalceda, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations.

He called the collapse of the bicameral budget talksas “the biggest missed opportunity for poverty reductionin this decade,” noting that the poor are worse offwithout new social spending, like P2.9 billion in healthinsurance affecting 36 million people.

Futility of bicameralismMoreover, de Venecia

expressed frustration over thefailure of the Senate to act onmore than 820 pending bills atthe Senate’s door. Practically 90percent of these bills are of local

importance, which may be “totally unimportant to ourSenators, but of inestimable value to our localconstituencies, to the provinces, cities, towns andvillages,” he said.

In the Speaker’s eyes, the remainder—the list ofnational bills for which the House has expended time,resources and effort—forms part of the incontrovertibleproof that each bill pending or ignored by the Senateshows the failure of that chamber as well as the “utterfutility and wastefulness” of a two-house legislature.

“This system cannot continue; we have to break it,we have to dismantle it,” de Venecia urged his colleaguesin his closing speech.

Public sector reformThe House continues to wage

a campaign for laws that aim toimprove bureaucratic conduct andoil the wheels of government todeliver vital public services. In theSecond Regular Session, it

approved HB 3776, or the Anti-Red Tape Act, to cutthrough inconvenient and unnecessary procedures ingovernment transactions. It seeks to ease and make

clear to the public the process of dealing with eachagency through information materials and billboards,to remove fixers from the scene and restore citizenconfidence in public service.

To assure faster tabulation and less tampering ofballots, the House gave its nod to HB 5352, whichamends RA 8436 (the law on automation of elections).As proposed, the bill envisions the immediate use of anautomated voting system to ensure secured balloting,accurate counting and immediately release of electionresults. The Commission on Elections is thus expectedto develop this system, with the assistance of a multi-agency Advisory Council, which shall ensure the integrityand auditability of voting and carry safeguards againstunauthorized access and error recovery in case of devicefailure.

Similarly, HB 4846, or the Land AdministrationReform Act, a consolidation of 15 bills, fortifies thecredibility and marketability of land titles, survey plansand other public documents pertaining to the country’sland resources. It is also a strategy to shorten thenotoriously tedious documentation process of acquiringand transferring proof of ownership of lands bystreamlining basic land administration functions in asingle government body.

In pursuit of curbing graft by streamlininggovernment procedures, the House approved HB 3309,the Frontline Service Information Act, and HB 4069,the Anti-Smuggling Act, in its First Regular Session.

In the education front, HB 5008 seeks to strengthenthe University of the Philippines as the premier stateuniversity by amending its archaic 1908 charter to defineits roles and empower it as the country’s hub ofexcellence in the various disciplines, serving as agraduate, research, and public-service university.

Constitutional reformBy approving Concurrent Resolution

No. 26, the House moved to amend the1987 Constitution by ConstituentAssembly of Congress. The keyamendments are two-fold with far-reaching consequences. One is the shift

from the bicameral presidential system—which has failedthe nation’s hopes—to the parliamentary unicameralsystem; the other is the lifting of economic restrictionsto attract foreign direct investments into the country—an open-door policy that, applied elsewhere in Asia,gave impetus to China’s rise as an economic powerhouse,and the rapid development of Singapore, Hong Kong,Malaysia and Thailand. Forming a somber backdrop tothe campaign was the failed plot to overthrow thegovernment in late February.

De Venecia called Charter reform the “country’s lastremaining hope to turn around the economy andtransform the Philippines from a third-world to a second-world country in the next ten years.” A final effort,

5

endorsed by the LEDAC, to reconcile the Senate andHouse approaches to Charter reform collapsed in earlyJune. By then the second approach to Charter reform—the People’s Initiative—succeeded in gathering nearlynine million signatories to the petition pushing for theshift to a parliamentary government.

More resources for localitiesA frequent source of confusion

and conflict in local governance isaccess of local government units(LGUs) to their lawful share in theexploitation of natural resources intheir boundaries. HB 2744 offers asolution by requiring all independent

power producers, generation companies and/or energyresource developers to directly remit the amount theyare required to set aside as financial benefit to hostcommunities, no longer coursing the funds through thenational government. In the same manner, HB 54 amendsthe Local Government Code to authorize LGUs to applyat least 80 percent of the share of the proceeds derivedfrom hydrothermal, geothermal and other sources ofenergy for the electrification of areas within the sameprovince.

Armed Forces reformAlso gaining favor on third

reading in the Second RegularSession were bills meant to initiatechanges in Armed Forces of thePhilippines (AFP) administration,most of them filed by Membersformerly in the military service.

On one hand, HB 219, now inbicameral conference committee, seeks a fixed tenurefor the AFP Chief of Staff of three years, with no extensionunless Congress approves it due to war or nationalemergency. The Major Service Commanders shall have afixed term of two years.

HB 3370, on the other hand, aims to create theOffice of the AFP Comptroller, civilian in nature, to takethe place of the whole Office of the Deputy Chief ofStaff for Comptrollership, also known as “J-6,” whichhas been notorious as a graft-prone military officehandling the budgeting, accounting, finance and internalauditing and management of the entire AFP. The newcivilian Comptroller must be insulated from pressures inmilitary culture which may lead to corruption.

To institute a stronger anti-graft mechanism withinthe AFP, HB 4870 enhances the powers of its InspectorGeneral Service Office to serve as an administrativedeterrent to malfeasance and emphasizes a pro-activedisposition towards investigating instances where ananomaly is perceived.

In the matter of recognizing veterans, HB 4451 isa measure amending RA 6948 to redefine the term

“veteran” to encompass those who rendered militaryservice during the revolution against Spain, thePhilippine-American War, World War II, the KoreanCampaign, the Vietnam Campaign, and AFP retirees aswell as those sooner separated due to death or disabilityarising from injuries or sickness incurred in the line ofduty while in active service.

Housing for allAn estimated 3.5 million

housing units need to be built tocover the heads of Filipinos who haveno shelter of their own. TheCommittee on Housing and UrbanDevelopment has worked overtime to

craft and endorse a battery of measures—approved, inturn, in plenary—to address this problem, which itconsiders a result of long-term government neglect andinadequate socialized housing funds and incentives.

HB 4264, or the Omnibus Housing and UrbanDevelopment Act, aims to orchestrate nationalgovernment action with the various factors involved inaddressing the shelter shortage—finance, land, localgovernments, non-government organizations, and privatesector cooperation—under a Department of Housing andUrban Development. Its primary concern is to makeavailable housing for low-income and middle-levelearners across the country, integrated with access totransport, employment, and financing.

To further define the responsibilities of both realestate buyer and developer, HB 4073 seeks to amendthe Subdivision and Condominium Buyers ProtectiveDecree. Among several features, this measure obligesthe subdivision developer to concrete roads within oneyear from the issuance of the project license. If thedeveloper fails to complete his project, the Housing

HOUSING BONANZA. Vice President Noli de Castro and Speaker Josede Venecia sign an agreement launching the Kalinga PilipinasCongressional District Housing Program, which aims to build an initial200,000 low-cost houses in 60 districts across the country simultaneouslyin 2006, following the successful Gawad Kalinga housing program. Othersignatories are Executive Director Antonio Meloto of Gawad KalingaFoundation; Acting Social Welfare and Development Secretary LuwalhatiPablo; Chairperson Rosemarie Basa, CREBA Social HousingFoundation; Minority Leader Francis Escudero; Chairman EduardoZialcita of the Housing and Urban Development Committee; BoholGovernor Erico Aumentado, president of the Union of Local Authoritiesof the Philippines and the League of Provinces; Mayor Ramon GuicoJr., president of the League of Municipalities; and Iloilo City Mayor JerryTreñas, president of the League of Cities.

6

and Land Use Regulatory Board can declare it abandonedand, after five years, the subdivision roads can becomepublic in character.

In cognizance of the role homeowners play in localdevelopment, HB 4428, or the Magna Carta forHomeowners’ Organizations, formalizes and spells outthe basic rights, powers, and duties of these groups andlinks them closer to the local government units. Throughthis measure, homeowners’ groups are recognized asgrassroots forces in improving communal quality of life.

To fully professionalize the real estate industry, HB4847 proposes a Professional Regulatory Board of RealEstate Service which would conduct licensureexaminations for brokers, appraisers and consultants inthis field. The bill empowers the Board to regulate thepractice of these professions by imposing ethical conductupon those it has licensed and accredited. Correspondingpenalties upon persons and entities in violation of thelaw are set down in the bill. HB 4847 grants the realestate industry the professional recognition it deservesby elevating brokerage, appraisal and consultancy tothe level of a profession. In this manner, it also givesthe public a measure of protection from anomalous realestate deals.

In the First Regular Session, the House passed HB3769, aiming to institutionalize local housing boardsin every locality; HB 3835, to open up a process ofrestructuring delinquent socialized and low-cost housingloans; and HB 3834, calling for a “No Bidding” sale ofgovernment-owned properties to its informal occupants(as buyers under a direct negotiated sale for socializedhousing).

Social reformThe Second Regular Session

proved to be fertile ground for thepassage of legislation to give duerecognition to women and childrenand to provide relief to sectorswhich may be disadvantaged bycurrent laws and societalconditions.

HB 4244 gives hope for the legitimation of childrenborn to parents below 18 years of age. Under Article177 of the Family Code, children born in suchcircumstances are considered illegitimate. This makesadoption a necessary course for gaining legitimatestatus. HB 4244 seeks to amend the Family Code andadd a clause allowing those conceived and born toparents under the age of majority to be eligible foradoption.

To further assist the integration of persons withdisabilities (PWDs) into the mainstream, HB 2810 aimsto ensure that they receive the services due them underthe Magna Carta for Disabled Persons—including accessto supportive telecommunications, education, andemployment systems—by creating a Persons with

Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) in every province, cityand municipality. A function of the PDAO will be tocheck compliance of public and commercial buildingswith the mandated infrastructure for PWDs, to seektraining programs and to encourage job openings forthem, as an office promoting their civil and politicalrights.

For small fishermen who use the traditional handlinefishing at sea, HB 4067 will help them safely engage intheir livelihood without being mistaken for poachers orsubjected to rules applicable only to big fishing operatorsby authorities. The bill defines handline fishing andlays down the rules on registration of handline fishingboats, as well as the manning complement of the boats,whose catch shall be considered as Philippine produceand not subject to import duties, even if caught beyondPhilippine exclusive economic zone. Some 30,000 tunahandline fishermen, mostly in Mindanao, will benefitfrom this measure.

HB 4713 declares November 20 each year as aspecial non-working holiday to be known as the NationalChildren’s Day, to ascertain awareness of the UnitedNations Declaration on the Rights of the Child andemphasize the youth’s role in the future of the nation,while acknowledging the State’s responsibility to provideinstitutional support to protect, educate and nourishFilipino children.

In the same manner, HB 4999, authored by allwomen legislators, declares June 30 every year as a dayof celebration to commemorate Philippine feminism. Thebill cites June 30, 1905 as the founding date ofAsociacion Feminista Filipina, the first formal feministorganization in the country, and that, by celebratingthis date, official recognition is given to the invaluableroles played by women in the struggle for independenceand freedom, and in the whole effort of nation-building.

As a way to honor the nation’s diverse traditions,the House approved HB 981, declaring the culminationof the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Makkah (Saudi Arabia)a national holiday. The nationwide observance of EidulAdha, the last day of the hajj, shall instill betterawareness and understanding of the cultural heritage of15 million Filipino Muslims in our predominantlyChristian population.

Environmental sustainabilityThe planting of more trees

throughout the country has gainedeven more urgency in the wake ofcatastrophic mudslides that haveoccurred in Guinsaugon, SouthernLeyte and in Camiguin.

HB 4491 aims to set up the “Treefor Legacy Program,” a nationwide self-sustainingreforestation program to be administered by LGUs, incooperation with the DENR and other concernedagencies. Under this Program, instruments such as the

7

Tree for Legacy Contract, Certificate of Tree Ownership,Certificate of Usufruct, and Permit to Harvest are issuedto document the growing, cutting, preservation andharvesting of forest products. Among the incentives forparticipants are the right to harvest, sell and utilizetrees on private land, exemption from forest charges,and technical and marketing assistance.

The revival of Arbor Day is a practical solution theHouse has approved as embodied in HB 3821. The billvests provincial, city and municipal governments, withtheir component barangays, the responsibility to revivethe annual celebration of Arbor Day at a fixed date everyyear suitable for tree-planting activities. The bill’sauthors say it is a practical solution to maintainecological harmony and beautify localities.

Earlier, in the first year of the 13th Congress, theHouse approved HB 4081, a measure aiming to spur theplanting of a billion trees through the complementarytree-planting programs of various government agencies,like the DENR and the DepEd, with one million hectaresof open and denuded forest lands as target areas on itsfirst five years of implementation. In its comprehensiveview, HB 4081 defines the roles of government agenciesas well as upland communities, non-governmentorganizations, private individuals and families,corporations, homeowners and real estate developerseven as it opens opportunities for eco-tourism, foreignfunding, BOT funding and securitization of trees. Speakerde Venecia himself championed this bill to create anational greenbelt.

In advancing the fight against pollution, HB 4363seeks to implement the provisions of the 1992Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damageand the 1992 International Convention on theEstablishment of an International Fund for Compensationfor Oil Pollution Damage. This measure devises a schemeof adequate compensation to victims of oil pollutiondamage and the institutional mechanism to process suchclaims. It enables the victims to directly proceed againstthe ship owner involved in the pollution incident andimposes a system of strict but limited liability againsterring ship owners. Penalties are imposed for non-compliance with the law, failure to maintain financialsecurity, failure to contribute to the International OilPollution Compensation Act, and the failure to submitthe report of contributing oil.

Amplifying human and labor rightsThe House made good its

commitment to amplify humanrights concerns. HB 3315,providing compensation tovictims of human rights violationscommitted during the Martial Lawregime under deposed PresidentMarcos, garnered 140 votes on

third reading in June 2006. An estimated P8 billion, to

be sourced from the P35-billion Marcos deposits grantedby Swiss courts, will be distributed to the bill’sbeneficiaries, led by the 9,539 victims who won a classsuit in the Hawaii District Court in 1995 against theMarcos estate.

To augment the capacity of the Commission onHuman Rights in delivering services, HB 2854 wants toset up Human Rights Resource Centers in every province.The bill, according to its primary authors, shall helpbuild a human rights-based law enforcement systemamong local government units and push for the effectiveenforcement of measures against abuses of human rights,especially among women and children.

Responding to a need to fill a wide informationgap between workers and their legal rights, the Houseassented to HB 376, which requires employers to clearlyinform employees of their rights, benefits and privileges,on the first day of work and every time a compensablecontingency occurs. Thousands of workers who sufferwork-related illnesses or accidents annually fail to availof benefits under the Employees Compensation Programdue to ignorance and stand to lose their right tocompensation beyond the three-year prescriptive periodof filing claims.

Inter-parliamentary relationsThe House pursued its policy

of bolstering inter-parliamentaryrelations. Raising the institution’sprofile further, the Speakeraccepted, through Rep. Antonio V.Cuenco, the Presidency of the Asean

Inter-Parliamentary Organization (AIPO) during theregional group’s 26th General Assembly in Vientiane, Laosin September 2005.

Three parliamentary delegations were hosted in theSecond Regular Session. From the People’s Republic ofChina (PROC), the Hon. Zhang Dejiang, Member of thePolitical Bureau of the Central Committee of the

GLOBAL DEBT RELIEF. Speaker de Venecia addressed the WorldSummit of Speakers of Parliament at the UN where he unveiled hisproposal to ease the debt burden of some 100 developing nations. TheInter-Parliamentary Union and the Paris Club also welcomed his ideason debt-for-equity exchange. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan calledthe proposal “a creative way of approaching the issue of external debt.”

8

Communist Party of China, and his delegation arrived inNovember 2005. The succeeding month saw the visit ofthe Hon. Li Shenxue, Secretary General of the JilinProvincial Committee and concurrent Vice Minister ofthe People’s Congress of Jilin Province, also from thePROC. Speaker Kim Won-Ki of the National Assembly ofKorea paid a visit in March 2006 accompanied byMembers of Parliament.

In compliance with its international commitments,the House sent official delegations to 20 inter-parliamentary conferences, including the 94th Sessionof the International Labor Organization (Geneva), SecondWorld Conference of Speakers of Parliaments (New York),113th and 114th Assemblies of the Inter-ParliamentaryUnion (Geneva and Nairobi), 6th General Assembly ofthe Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace (Pattaya),11th Asean Summit (Kuala Lumpur), 6th MinisterialConference of the World Trade Organization (Hongkong),14th Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum(Jakarta), Fourth Asia-Europe Parliamentary PartnershipMeeting (Helsinki), and the Second World Conferenceof Women Parliamentarians (Sofia).

Debt-for-equity programOn the world development

stage, the House leadership madewaves.

Debt burden remains a majorobstacle to national developmentand eradication of grinding povertyamong more than 100 heavily-

indebted middle-income nations of Africa, Asia and LatinAmerica. Using innovative thinking, Speaker de Veneciaworked out a program converting half of their foreigndebt to international lending institutions into equity indevelopment programs to achieve the MillenniumDevelopment Goals of the United Nations. “It will buildhousing and schools, fight disease, lift literacy, andcreate jobs,” he said.

Unveiled in September last year, the program wonUN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s endorsement as ameans to “finance sustainable development programs.”Key political leaders in Asia, Europe and Africa either

endorsed or showed interest in the program, which isnot a plea for debt forgiveness, debt cancellation, debtmoratorium and debt discount.

“We propose only that the rich countries,multilateral institutions and large commercial banks plowback into the economies of the debtor-countries 50percent of an agreed-on portion of the debt-servicepayments due them,” de Venecia said. Before top leadersof the International Monetary Fund and the World Bankin Washington DC, de Venecia called the program a“formula to finance the global battle againstpoverty…that will be painless to the creditor institutionsand at the same time help the billions of poor peopleall over the world.”

Unprecedented savingsIn June 2006, Speaker de Venecia proudly

announced an unprecedented P190 million in savingsin 2005 “through a program of austerity, cost-cuttingand disciplined financial management.”

In a meeting with President Arroyo, the ChiefExecutive warmly congratulated de Venecia and the entireHouse for the savings, the second time in as many yearsthat the chamber successfully reduced costs “to set anexample for other government agencies.” In 2004, deVenecia turned over P66 million in House savings to theNational Treasury.

The Speaker—joined by Rep. Robert Ace Barbers,Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations;Deputy Minority Leader Agapito “Butz” Aquino; andSecretary General Roberto Nazareno—told Ms. Arroyo theHouse would allocate P100 million of the savings for theconstruction of a new building in the Batasan PambansaComplex to accommodate the expanded membership ofthe lower chamber and their support staff.

De Venecia said the rest of the savings would beutilized to augment the financing for fullcomputerization of the entire operations of House officesunder the Speaker’s program to modernize the legislatureand bring it to the digital age.·

RP-KOREA TIES. Speaker Jose de Venecia introduces House Membersto Speaker Kim Won-Ki of South Korea shortly before the start of bilateralparliamentary talks.

PRUDENCE BEARS FRUIT. Speaker Jose de Venecia informs PresidentGloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the record P190 million savings the Houseposted in 2005. “This is a significant House achievement because noother government agency has saved this much,” de Venecia told thePresident. With de Venecia are (from left) Deputy Secretary GeneralNoel Albano, Secretary General Roberto Nazareno, House AccountsCommittee Chairman Robert Ace Barbers and Deputy Minority LeaderAgapito Aquino.

9

Accomplishm

ent Report

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PLENARY AFFAIRS BUREAU13TH CONGRESS CUMULATIVE STATISTICAL DATA ON BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS

July 1, 2004 to June 24, 2006

I. HOUSE BILLS

A. Number of House Bills Filed 5537

Number of House Bills Referred to Various Committees 5518

National Application 2468

Local Application 3050

B. House Bills Acted Upon by the House 883

1. Enacted/Lapsed into Law 14


Local Application 4

2. Vetoed by the President 0

3. Approved on Third Reading 838

a) Pending Action by the Senate 824


Local Application 748

b) Pending in Conference Committee 8

c) Pending Presidential Action 6


Local Application 5

4. Approved on Second Reading 31


Local Application 6

II. HOUSE RESOLUTIONS

Number of Resolutions Filed 1284

Number of Resolutions Referred to Various Committees 1110

Number of Resolutions Adopted by the House 173

III. HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS

Number of House Concurrent Resolutions Filed 32

Number of House Concurrent Resolutions Referred to Committees 17

Number of House Concurrent Resolutions Pending by the House 10

Number of House Concurrent Resolutions Pending by the Senate 5

Number of House Concurrent Resolutions Pending in Conference 0

Number of House Concurrent Resolutions Adopted by Both Houses 0

IV. HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTIONS

Number of House Joint Resolutions Filed 17

Number of House Joint Resolutions Referred to Committees 12

Number of House Joint Resolutions Pending Action by the Senate 5

Number of House Joint Resolutions Adopted by Both Houses 0

Number of House Joint Resolutions Adopted by the House 0

Acco

mpl

ishm

ent

Repo

rt

10

Acco

mpl

ishm

ent

Repo

rt

NATIONAL BILLS APPROVED BY THE 13TH CONGRESSJuly 1, 2004 to June 24, 2006

RA/ HOUSEBILL NO.

TITLE DATEENACTED

I. ENACTED INTO LAWS (10)

RA09334 AN ACT INCREASING THE SPECIFIC TAX RATES IMPOSED ON ALCOHOL ANDTOBACCO PRODUCTS AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 141, 142, 143,144 AND 145 OF THE NATIONAL INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1997, ASAMENDED (HB 03174/ SB 01854)

12/21/04

RA09335 AN ACT PROVIDING FOR OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE IN REVENUE COLLECTIONTHROUGH THE GRANT OF SPECIAL INCENTIVES AND REWARDS FOREXEMPLARY SERVICE AND THROUGH LATERAL ATTRITION IN REVENUE-GENERATING AGENCIES OF GOVERNMENT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES (HB02996/ SB 01871)

01/25/05

RA09336 AN ACT APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OFTHE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES FROM JANUARY ONE TO DECEMBER THIRTY-ONE, TWO THOUSAND FIVE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES (HB 03154)

03/15/05

RA09337 AN ACT RESTRUCTURING THE VALUE-ADDED TAX, AMENDING FOR THEPURPOSE SECTIONS 106, 107, 108, 110 AND 114 OF THE NATIONAL INTERNALREVENUE CODE OF 1997, AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES (HB03555/ HB 03705/ SB 01950)

05/10/05

RA09340 AN ACT RESETTING THE BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN ELECTIONS,EXTENDING THE TERM OF OFFICE OF BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANGKABATAAN OFFICIALS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES (SB 02000/ HB 03742)

09/22/05

RA09341 AN ACT TO EXTEND THE EFFECTIVITY OF THE RENTAL REFORM ACT OF 2002,PRESCRIBING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AUTHORIZED INCREASE AND THEDISPOSITION OF RENTAL AND DEPOSIT, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSESECTIONS 3 AND 5 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9161, ENTITLED 'AN ACTESTABLISHING REFORMS IN THE REGULATION OF RENTALS OF CERTAINRESIDENTIAL UNITS, PROVIDING THE MECHANISMS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHERPURPOSES' (SB 01956/ HB 03356)

12/21/05

RA09342 AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8996, ENTITLED 'AN ACT GRANTING THEEND TIME MISSION BROADCASTING SERVICE, INC. A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT,INSTALL, ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN FOR RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONALAND NON-COMMERCIAL PURPOSES RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCASTINGSTATIONS ANYWHERE IN LUZON' (HB 03524)

01/19/06

RA09343 AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED NINETY-ONE HUNDRED ANDEIGHTY-TWO (R.A. NO. 9182), OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SPECIAL PURPOSEVEHICLE ACT OF 2002 (HB 04066/ SB 02204)

04/24/06

RA09344 AN ACT PROVIDING SPECIAL PROTECTION TO CHILDREN/JUVENILES IN CONFLICTWITH THE LAW BY ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE JUVENILE JUSTICESYSTEM AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION PROGRAM, CREATING THE OFFICE OFTHE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION UNDER THEDEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHERPURPOSES (SB 01402/ HB 05065)

04/28/06

RA09346 PROHIBITING THE IMPOSITION OF DEATH PENALTY IN THE PHILIPPINES (HB 04826/SB 02254)

06/24/06

II. PENDING PRESIDENTIAL ACTION (1)

HB05015 Rationalizing the Composition and Functions of the National Labor Relations Commission

III. PENDING IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE (8)

HB00219 Prescribing a Fixed Term for the Chief of Staff and Major Service Commanders of the AFP

HB00224 Creating the Rank of First Chief Master Sergeant/First Master Chief Petty Officer in the Enlisted Ranks of theAFP

HB04710 Budget 2006

HB05013 Appropriating P13,100,000,000.00 as Supplemental Appropriation to Fund the Adjustment in Compensation ofthe National Government Employees

HB04900 Declaring a One-Time Amnesty on Certain Tax and Duty Liabilities Incurred by Business Enterprises OperatingWithin the Special Economic Zones and Freeports

HB05064 Amending RA 7227, as Amended, Otherwise Known as the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992

HB05296 Restructuring the Income Taxation for Individuals

HB05352 Amending Certain Provisions of RA 8436 (Use of an Automated Election System in National and LocalElectoral Exercises)

11

Accomplishm

ent Report

IV. PENDING ACTION BY THE SENATE (76)

HB00054 Authorizing Local Government Units to Apply the Share of the Proceeds Dervied from Hydrothermal,Geothermanl and other Sources of Energy

HB00068 Prohibiting the Detention of Live or Dead Patients in Hospitals and Medical Clinics for Nonpayment of HospitalBills or Medical Expenses

HB00077 Providing for the Venue of the Criminal and Civil Action in Libel Cases AGainst Community Journalists,Publications or Broadcast Stations

HB00372 Providing for Reliefs from and Execution of Final Decisions and Awards of the National Labor RelationsCommission and Labor Arbiters

HB00376 Requiring Employers to Inform Their Employees of Their Rights, Benefits and Privileges Under Existing Lawsand Company Policies or Employment Contracts

HB00643 Granting Filipino Citizenship to Mr. Charles William Mosser

HB00692 Granting a Franchise to Cable Link and Holdings Corporation

HB00788 Providing for Additional Members of the Board of Trustees of the National Maritime Polytechnic

HB00981 Declaring the Culmination of Muslim Haji a National Holiday for the Observance of Eidul Adha

HB01173 Declaring Arnis as the Philippine National Sport

HB01351 Strengthening the Workers' Constitutional Right to Self-Organization

HB01531 National Book Development Trust Fund Act

HB01561 Amending PD 1638, Known as the AFP Military Personnel Retirement and Separation Decree of 1979

HB01562 Amending RA 340, as Amended, Which Established a Uniform Retirement System for the AFP

HB01829 Granting Philippine Citizenship to Rev. Fr. Ulrich H. Schlecht, SVD

HB02454 Granting Philippine Ctizenship to Mr. Jose R. Rodriguez

HB02478 Granting a Franchise to Radio Maria Foundation, Inc.

HB02744 Requiring All Independent Power Producers, Generation Companies and/or Energy Resource Developers toRemit the Amount They Are Required to Set Aside as Financial Benefit to Hose Communities Directly to theLatter

HB02810 Creating the Persons With Disabilities Affairs Office in Every Province, City and Municipality

HB02854 Human Rights Resource Center Act of 2004

HB02933 Granting a One-Time Tax Amnesty on all Unpaid National Internal Revenue Taxes for Taxable Year 2003 andPrior Years

HB03295 The Investments Incentives Code of the Philippines

HB03309 Frontline Service Information Act of 2004

HB03315 Human Rights Compensation Act of 2004

HB03370 Creating the Office of the Comptroller of the AFP

HB03409 Further Amending P.D. No. 1869, Otherwise Known as Pagcor Charter

HB03413 Expanding the Prohibited Acts of Discrimination Against Women on Account of Sex

HB03740 Amending RA No. 8178 by Extending the Utilization Period of Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund

HB03769 "Local Housing Board Act."

HB03776 "Anti-Red Tape Act of 2005."

HB03783 Declaring Nov. 25 of Every Year as "National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of Violence AgainstWomen"

HB03821 Revival of Arbor Day/Tree Planting Day

HB03828 According Official Status and Legal Recognition To Tribal Peace Pact Holders As Persons In Authority

HB03834 "No-Bidding" Sale of Government-Owned Properties To Its Occupants For Socialized Housing

HB03835 "Socialized and Low-Cost Housing Loan Restructuring Act of 2005."

HB04065 Volunteerism Act of 2005

12

Acco

mpl

ishm

ent

Repo

rt

HB04067 "Handline Fishing Law."

HB04069 Anti-Smuggling Act of 2005

HB04073 "The Subdivision and Condominium Buyers' Protective Decree Amendments of 2005."

HB04074 "Subdivision Green Parks Act of 2005."

HB04081 "Billion Trees Act of 2005."

HB04148 Mandating the Representation of Cooperatives in the Board of Directors of the Land Bank of the Philippines

HB04220 Granting Franchise to Free Air Broadcasting Network Corp.

HB04244 Legitimation of Children Born to Parents Below Marrying Age

HB04264 "Omnibus Housing and Urban Development Act"

HB04275 Ensuring Objectivity and the Protection of Witnesses in the Prosecution of Cases by the Ombudsman, AllowingPrivate Lawyers to Act as Prosecutors on His Behalf

HB04363 "Oil Pollution Compensation Act"

HB04428 "Magna Carta for Homeowners' Associations"

HB04451 Redefining the Term 'Veteran'

HB04491 "Tree for Legacy Act of 2005."

HB04553 Changing the Nomenclature of the National Library Into the National Library of the Philippines

HB04602 'Philippine Cooperative Code of 2005.'

HB04629 "Bioethanol Fuel Act of 2005."

HB04636 Granting Franchise to Transglobal Airways Corporation

HB04713 'National Children's Day Act of 2005.'

HB04721 Requiring All Local Government Units to Adopt a Boy Scouting and Girl Scouting Recognition Day

HB04835 Amending RA No. 53, As Amended, by Including Within Its Coverage Journalists From Broadcast, NewsAgencies and Internet Publications

HB04839 'Anti-Terrorism Act of 2005."

HB04845 Granting Philippine Citizenship to Michael G. J. Gleissner

HB04846 "The Land Administration Reform Act of 2005."

HB04847 "Real Estate Service Act of the Philippines."

HB04848 "The Philippine Dental Act of 2005."

HB04861 "Physicians Act of 2005."

HB04870 Enhancing the Inspector General Service Office, AFP

HB04893 Defining as a Crime the Act of Driving Any Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol and/orProhibited Drugs

HB04947 Granting Rewards to Informers of Violations of Internal Revenue and Customs Laws

HB04959 "Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2005."

HB04993 "Validation of Duly Issued Sales Certificates Covering Lots Within the Friar Lands of 2005."

HB04999 Declaring June 30 of Every Year As a Day of Celebration to Commemorate Philippine Feminism

HB05003 Amending Section 290 of RA 7160, Otherwise Known as the Local Government Code of 1991

HB05008 "The University of the Philippines Charter of 2005."

HB05070 Amending Sections 91 and 97 of RA 8550, Otherwise Known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998

HB05269 "Special Education Act of 2006."

HB05284 "Philippine VOIP Act of 2005."

HB05357 "Environmental Planning Act of 2006."

HB05371 Declaring Certain Parcels of Land of the Public Domain Within Small Islands as Agricultural Land Open toDisposition for Commercial Eco-Tourism

13

Accomplishm

ent Report

LOCAL BILLS PASSED BY THE 13TH CONGRESSJuly 1, 2004 to June 24, 2006

RA/ HOUSEBILL NO.

TITLE DATEENACTED

I. ENACTED INTO LAWS (4)

RA09333 AN ACT FIXING THE DATE OF REGULAR ELECTION FOR ELECTIVE OFFICIALS OFTHE AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO PURSUANT TO REPUBLIC ACTNO. 9054, ENTITLED 'AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND THE ORGANIC ACTFOR THE AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO, AMENDING FOR THEPURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6734, ENTITLED 'AN ACT PROVIDING FOR ANORGANIC ACT FOR THE AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO', ASAMENDED (SB 01757/ HB02808)

09/21/04

RA09338 AN ACT GRANTING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP TO MAHMOUD A.M. ASFOUR (HB02659/ SB 01952)

07/28/05

RA09339 AN ACT FURTHER AMENDING THE FRANCHISE OF VISAYAN ELECTRIC COMPANY,INC., GRANTED UNDER ACT NO. 3499, AS AMENDED, TO CONSTRUCT, OPERATEAND MAINTAIN A DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF ELECTRICPOWER TO THE END-USERS IN THE CITIES OF CEBU, MANDAUE AND TALISAYAND THE MUNICIPALITIES OF MINGLANILLA, NAGA, SAN FERNANDO,CONSOLACION AND LILO-AN, PROVINCE OF CEBU AND RENEWING/EXTENDINGTHE TERM OF FRANCHISE TO ANOTHER TWENTY-FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATEOF APPROVAL OF THIS ACT (HB 03696)

09/01/05

RA 9345 CONVERTING THE PANGLAO ISLAND CIRCUMFERENTIAL ROAD IN TAGBILARANCITY, BOHOL INTO A NATIONAL ROAD (HB 03872)

06/05/06

II. PENDING PRESIDENTIAL ACTION (5)

1. Conversion, Naming & Renaming of Road 5

III. PENDING IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE (0)

IV. PENDING ACTION BY THE SENATE (748)

1. Establishing, Recognizing, Separating, Renaming & Converting of Schools 309

2. Conversion, Naming & Renaming of Roads & Bridges 293

3. Creation of Congressional District, Town & Province 8

4. Establishing, Converting, Separating Engineering Districts 8

5. Land Disposition & Utilization 28

6. Creation of Trial Courts 21

7. Franchise 8

8. Economic Development 2

9. Holidays 41

10. Economic & Free Port Zones 6

11. Tourist Spot/Eco-Tourism 6

12. Protected Area/Environmental Protection 13

13 Converting Natural Park 2

14 City Charter/Conversion into Highly Urbanized City 3

14

Acco

mpl

ishm

ent

Repo

rt

STATUS OF MEASURES CONSIDERED/PASSED VIS-À-VIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDASET BY LEDAC FOR THE 13TH CONGRESS

Second Regular Session

MEASURES FILED/AGENDA/ OBJECTIVE

SALIENT FEATURES STATUS

LEDAC 1 - Anti-Poverty

HB Nos. 247, 279, 417, 2830- Agricultural Land as Loan Collateral

Provides measures to enhance the acceptabilityof agricultural lands as security for loansobtained from lenders, banks, and other financialinstitutions.

Draft Committee Reportapproved by the Cttee onAgrarian Reform, pending in theCttee on Appro

HB Nos. 251, 272, 1478, 2342, 2567,2978, 3221- National Land Use Policy

Provides for the National Land Use Policy andPlanning Framework and the ImplementingMechanisms thereof.

Pending in the Cttee on NaturalResources

HB No. 4846, CR No. 1155- Land Administration Reform

Institutes reforms in land administration; creatingthe Land Administration Authority (LAA), definingits structure, powers and functions.

Approved, transmitted to theSenate on 3-1-06

HB Nos. 107, 401, 402, 1491, 1763, 2961,4267, 4528- Idle Land Tax

Imposes taxes on idle agricultural, residentialand industrial lands.

Pending in the Cttee on LocalGovernment

HB No. 3315, CR No.117- Compensation to Human Rights Victims

Mandates compensation to victims of humanrights during the entire period of Martial Law

On 2nd Reading

HB No. 0041, CR No. 754- Health Sector Reform Implementation Act

Seeks to institute the modernization of healthcare delivery system; it includes strongadvocacy for the establishment of district healthboards in every district, regional medical centersand specialty hospitals

For 2nd Reading

HB No. 4375, CR No. 836- Hospital Corporation

Authorizes government hospitals to utilize all itsincome for their maintenance and operatingexpenses.

For 2nd Reading

HB Nos. 494, 613, 1883- Amending DOH -BFAD RegulatoryMandates

Strengthens the capability of Bureau of Foodand Drugs (BFAD) by establishing adequatetesting laboratories and field offices in allprovinces and cities, upgrading its equipment,creating a Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) underits operational and administrative control.

Pending in the Cttee on Health

LEDAC 2 - Anti-Corruption

Amendments to the Ombudsman Act re:Requiring the creation of an investigation(case build-up) unit that would include notonly graft cases but also lifestylecheck/creation of a new institutionpatterned after ICAC

No bill filed

HB No. 4275, CR No. 755- Amending RA 6770 by allowing the Officeof the Ombudsman to hire privateprosecutors to litigate before theSandiganbayan

Ensures objectivity and the protection ofwitnesses in the prosecution of cases by theOmbudsman, allowing private lawyers to act asprosecutor on his behalf.


Amending RA 1379 to be patterned afterUS RICO Law by integrating attachmentproceedings with the filing of lifestyle checkcases

No bill filed

HB No. 3776, CR No. 389- Amending RA 3019 and RA 6713otherwise known as the Anti-Graft andCorrupt Practices Act

Regulates the solicitation of contributions fromsale of tickets to any government official oremployee by any public official


HB Nos. 326, 1571, 1802, 2388- Whistleblower's Protection Act

Establishes a system that will encourage thegeneral public to provide relevant informationand evidence against public officials andemployees for violation of RA 3019.

Pending in the Cttee on Justice

HB Nos. 608, 2101, 2403- Requiring waiver of secrecy of bankdeposits of officials charged with corruption(after finding of probable cause by OMB)

Requires public officials and employees tosubmit written permission or waiver in favor ofthe Ombudsman to look into all deposits ofwhatever nature with banks or bankinginstitutions both within and outside thePhilippines.

Pending in the Cttee on Banksand Financial Intermediaries

15

Accomplishm

ent Report

LEDAC 3 - Economic Growth and Job Creation

Sustaining Macro-Economic Stability

HB No. 5296, CR No. 1581 - SimplifiedNet Income Taxation

Exempts minimum wage earners from incometaxation and lowers the income tax of middleincome earners. It also increases the personalexemptions by 50% enjoyed by every taxpayers.


HB No. 3174, CR No. 060- Indexation of Sin Taxes

Increases the specific tax rates imposed onalcohol and tobacco products.

RA 9334 (Signed - 12-21-04)

HB No. 3295, CR No. 098- Rationalization of Fiscal Incentives

Rationalizes and harmonizes the grant andadministration of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives


HB No. 2933, CR No. 026- General Tax Amnesty

Grants a one-time tax amnesty on all unpaidinternal revenue taxes imposed by the nationalgovernment for taxable year 2003 and prioryears


HB No. 2895- Mandatory Submission of Statement ofAssets and Liabilities and Networth (SALN)

Proposes the mandatory annual submission tothe BIR of statement of assets and liabilities andnetworth by all natural and juridical personsearning more than P200,000 or owning a real orpersonal properties valued at P500,000

Pending in the Cttee on Waysand Means

HB No. No. 2996, CR No. 028- Lateral Attrition System

Provides for the optimum performance inrevenue collection through the grant ofspecial incentives and rewards for exemplaryservice and through lateral attrition inrevenue-generating agencies of government

RA 9335 (Signed -01-25-05)

HB No. 1323- Increase in Excise Tax on PetroleumProducts

Increases the excise tax imposed on petroleumproducts by Php2.00. the tax rate on LPG whichis a basic household needs has been excludedfrom the proposed increase and remains atzero.

Pending in the Cttee on Ways &Means

HB Nos. 553, 707, 712, 934, 1469, 1560,1609- Franchise Tax on Telecommunications toReplace VAT

Re-imposes the franchise tax on telephone andtelegraph companies and radio and televisionbroadcasting companies.

Pending in the Cttee on Ways &Means

HB No. 3555, CR No. 098- Restructuring the Value Added TaxRate

Increases the rate of the value-added taxfrom 10% to 12%.

RA 9337 (Signed 05-24-05)

HB No. 3890- Fiscal Responsibility Bill

Instills fiscal discipline in the public sector byspecifying principles of responsible financialmanagement and promoting full transparencyand accountability in government revenue,expenditure and borrowing programs.

Pending in the Cttee on Appro

HB Nos.193, 1532,- Government Re-Engineering Act

Provides for the streamlining of all governmentsystems and procedures to facilitate andimprove the relevance and quality of frontlineservices and impose policy formulation, planningand performance evaluation.

Pending in the Cttee onGovernment Reorganizations

HB Nos. 0075, 679, 720, 1561, 1562,1735, 1801, 2355, 2688 - Rationalizationof existing pension/ retirement schemes ofall uniformed personnel and veterans

Increases the benefits of our Filipino World WarVeterans by increasing their monthly pensionand at the same time provide them with medicalassistance.

Pending in the Cttee on VeteransAffairs & Welfare, and Cttee onNational Defense

Restructuring and Reforming the Financial Sector

HB No. 123- Amendments to the BSP Charter tostrengthen its supervisory capacity

Seeks to remove the 5-year limit of the BSP'stax exemption; authorizes the Monetary Board toprovide compensation structure based on jobevaluation studies and wage surveys but notlower than those of other government financialinstitution; and clarify that financial derivativesare subject to the regulations of MB.


Amendments to the Corporation Code (toinclude stronger provision on governance)

No bill filed

HB No. 3819- Establishment of a Central CreditInformation Bureau and Domestic CreditRating Agencies

Creates a Credit Information Bureau withBangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as the majorityshareholder that will have the power to collectand disseminate credit related information andmaintain the credit history and track records ofborrowers


HB Nos. 127, 2073, 2204- Corporate Recovery Act

Provides for the recovery of financiallydistressed enterprises and the resolution of theirindebtedness.


16

Acco

mpl

ishm

ent

Repo

rt

LEDAC 4 - Education and Youth Oppurtunities Programs

HB Nos. 105, 600, 1715, 1999, 2508,2585, 2628, 3201- Standardization of Day Care Instructionto Provide Appropriate Early ChildhoodEducation

Institutionalizes a pre-school program in thepublic educational system and integrating valuesformation into the curriculum of public pre-school,elementary and high school education.

Pending in the Cttee on BasicEducation and Culture

HB Nos. 084, 603, 1630, 1416- Amendments to Magna Carta for PublicTeachers

Proposes additional incentives to public schoolteachers who are assigned outside of theirtowns and provinces.


HB Nos. 316, 714- Amendments to RA 7880 or the Fair andEquitable Allocation of the DEC's Budgetfor Capital Outlay

Provides for the allocation of the DepEd'sSchool Building Program budget, ensuringbudget priority for the construction andmaintenance of school buildings andclassrooms.


HB Nos. 2864, 2898- Removal of Election Duties from Teachers

Frees teachers from this mandatory duty, theCOMELEC is authorize to tap the participation,through accreditation, of volunteer groups andindividuals to sit in the Board of ElectionInspectors.


HB Nos. 165, 2262- Amendments of Education Provision inLocal Government Code

Increases the Special Education Fund in order togive schools the necessary facilities needed bychildren and to enable teachers to undergo skillstraining through seminars and training.

Pending in the Cttee on LocalGovernment

HB No. 1915- Upgrading the Madrasah EducationSystem

Promotes Islamic philosophy or Madrasah byestablishing a trust fund to support its operation.

Pending in the Cttee on BasicEduc.

HB No.2941- Inclusion of mandatory air-time allocationfor educational instruction for elementary,high school and college for all radio andtelevision franchises

Amends all franchises granted to different radioand/or television broadcasting stations for thepurpose of mandating them to allocate time forpublic information program of the government.

Pending in the Cttee onLegislative Franchise

Making certification of 29 priorityoccupations mandatory

No bill filed

Allowing TESDA schools to use incomegenerated from the production projects

No bill filed

HB No. 1219- Institutionalizing of night classes

Institutionalizes the opening of night classesusing existing high school and elementary schoolfacilities all over the country.


HB No. 4343, CR No. 826- Pre-Need Code of the Philippines

Provides the legal framework to govern andregulate the operation of the pre-need industry.It stipulates additional measures to protect therights of the planholders.

Pending on 2nd Reading

HB Nos. 094, 118, 274, 1412, 1636, 1928- Personal Equity Retirement Account(PERA)

Institutionalizes the PERA for all private andprivate employees in order to promote amongthem positive attitude toward saving for theirretirement years. It is hoped that with PERA, itwould give our workforce a comfortable andsecure retirement.


HB Nos. 120, 639- Lending Investors Bill

Regulates the establishment and activities oflending companies to prevent and mitigatepractices of lending companies that areprejudicial to public interest.


HB No. 3295- Revised Investment Company Act

Provides for a more conducive regulatoryenvironment for the development of investmentcompanies including mutual funds.


Increasing Exports, Investments and Employment

HB 3126- Revitalize the Mining Industry

Sub-categorizes small-scale mining into aregular small-scale mining and artisanal mining.It allows small-scale miners to organizethemselves into partnerships, corporations, andcooperatives.

Pending in the Cttee on NaturalResources

HB No. 4900, CR No. 1304- Declare Subic and Clark as LogisticsHubs

Declares a one-time amnesty on certain tax andliabilities, inclusive of fines, penalties, interestsand other additions thereto, incurred by businessenterprises operating within the specialeconomic zones and freeports

On 2nd Reading

HB Nos. 569, 4188- Southern Mindanao as Halal FoodProduction Area

Establishes the general guidelines on thepreparation, handling and verification of Halalproducts such as food, beverage, cosmetics,garments and textile that serve as basicrequirement for certification.

Pending in the Cttee on Trade &Industry

HB No. 683, CR No. 897- Palawan as an Eco-Tourism Zone

Declares the province of Palawan as eco-tourism capital


17

Accomplishm

ent ReportACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The following House offices have provided source data for this report:

·Office of the Secretary General· Committee Affairs Department· Congressional Planning and Budget Department· Legislative Operations Department· Bills and Index Service· Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Special Affairs Department

LEDAC 5 - Energy Priority Measures

HB No. 2223- TRANSCO Franchise Bill

Grants the National Transmission Corporation afranchise to construct, install, operate andmaintain a transmission system and the gridthroughout the Philippines..

Pending in the Cttee onLegislative Franchise

HB No. 5515, CR No. 1714- Natural Gas Bill

Ordains the development of the downstreamnatural gas industry, consolidating for thepurpose all laws relating to the transmission,distribution and supply of natural gas.

On 2nd Reading

HB Nos. 1068, 1347, 1583, 3016, 4908- Renewable Energy Billl

Promotes the development, utilization andcommercialization of renewable energy systemsusing indigenous resources.

Pending in the Cttee on Energy

HB Nos. 1758, 1831, 2422, 3219, 4697- Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Bill

Rationalizes the manufacture, repair, re-qualification, sale and distribution of liquefiedpetroleum gas (LPG) cylinders.

Pending in the Cttee on Trade &Industry

HB No. 4629, CR No. 1002- Alternative Fuels Utilization Bill

Promotes the manufacture, importation, sale,distribution, use and development of hybrid andalternative fuel vehicle by granting taxexemptions and providing incentives therefore


public relations and information department publishing and design ... · on privilege speeches, and...

Documents