'Slim chance for FOI, anti-political dynasty, Cha-Cha bills' passage'

The proposed Freedom of Information (FOI) law, the anti-political dynasty bill and the economic charter change (Cha-cha) initiative stand a slim chance of passage in the 16th Congress as lawmakers will have their hands full deliberating on the proposed 2016 national budget and the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in its final regular session.

 

House Majority Floor Leader Neptali Gonzales II said approving these measures in the chamber will be a long shot because mustering the necessary number of votes, let alone a quorum, would be difficult come October since several lawmakers, particularly those from the provinces, will likely skip sessions to focus on their districts ahead of the May 2016 elections.

 

The filing of certificates of candidacies for the next national polls is set on October.

 

“Historically talaga, ito ang problema ng Kongreso, after we approve the budget on second reading, talaga namang milagro na lang talaga na magkaroon ng quorum. Next year, magre-resume kami ng middle of January. [Pagdating ng] first week of February mag-a-adjourn na kami [until] after the elections,” he said in an interview over radio dzBB.

 

While admitting that the bills on FOI and anti-political dynasty, as well as the resolution for Cha-cha are controversial measures, Gonzales attributed the difficulty of passing the measures to the lack of time left for lawmakers in the last stretch of the 16th Congress.

 

Tight House schedule

 

After Congress reconvenes on July 27, Gonzales said plenary debates on the Bangsamoro bill will resume while the 2016 general appropriations bill is being tackled by the House appropriations committee.

 

He said the chamber is eyeing the passage of the proposed BBL before the end of September, or before the budget bill is elevated for plenary discussions.

 

The three measures were earlier identified by House leaders as priority measures, but none of these were passed on final reading before the second regular session ended last June 11.

 

House leaders chose not to subject the Cha-cha resolution and anti-political dynasty bill to voting for approval on second and third reading, respectively, while the proposed FOI Act has yet to be introduced to the plenary.

 

Right timing

 

With the BBL also considered a controversial bill, Gonzales said finding the right timing to tackle the three other key measures will be a challenge.

 

“Mayroong mga nagsasabi na 'pag tinake up natin ngayong araw na ito ang anti-political dynasty bill, hindi na lang [sila] papasok, so medyo alanganin na. Tapos meron ka pang BBL na kinu-consider. Everything has got to do with timing eh. ‘Yan ang hindi ko lang malaman kung kelan ang tamang panahon para matalakay at ma-approve ang mga bagay na ito,” he said.

 

Gonzales said that while the anti-political dynasty bill was approved at the committee level, it is difficult for the measure to hurdle second reading because lawmakers opposed to the measure may convince their colleagues not to vote for it.

 

“Sa bandang huli political reality sets in. May mga pamilya talaga na marami sa mga posisyon sa lokal, doon tayo nagkakaroon ng problema. Siyempre kahit sabihin mo na iilan lang 'yan, hindi naman mga isandaan 'yan pero ang iilan na yan are able to seek the support of the other members of the House. 'Yan ang nagiging difficulty,” he said.

 

Asked if the three bills are unlikely to be passed by the House, Gonzales replied: “Hindi ko naman sinasabing wala ng pag-asa [na mapasa ‘yung mga bills], ang problema at kailangan ko lang ay numero. It has nothing to do with dahil controversial ang mga ito. It has something to do with the fact na maiksi talaga ’yung three years, particularly for the first termer and third termer who will be running for other positions dahil come October, naghahanda na ‘yan for the elections.”

 

Talks with Visayan bloc

 

Meanwhile, Gonzales said there are already talks between Malacañang and members of the House from the Visayas or the Visayan bloc on some provisions of the pending Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) bills.

 

One of these measures, House Bill 4296, seeks to renew the Department of Agrarian Reform's authority to issue notices of coverage and provide funding for support services to agricultural landholdings that have not yet been placed under CARP.

 

If it were up to him, Gonzales said he wants the Visayan lawmakers to sign a document after their dialogue with the executive branch to formalize what they have discussed.

 

Wealthy and landed lawmakers from the Visayas are opposed to the extension of CARP.

 

“Ang gusto ko lang, after n'yong mapag-usapan 'yan, magpirmahan kayo na parang may will and testament ba. Pumirma kayong lahat dyan para klarado sa lahat na 'yan ang pinag-usapan n'yo,” he said. —ALG, GMA News