Filtered By: Topstories
News
16 MEASURES PER SESSION

More than 2,900 House measures processed since July 2016


The House of Representatives has processed a total of 2,929 measures since the 17th Congress opened on July 25, 2016 until the sine die adjournment for the Second Regular Session on June 2, 2018.

The chamber had a total of 183 session days for the entire period, which means that for every session, they have processed an average of 16 measures.

Of the 2,929 measures processed, 96 of them were enacted into law --- 30 of which are of national significance, 60 of local significance, and two are joint resolutions of Congress.

A total of 9,826 House measures have also been filed since the start of the 17th Congress, composed of 7,826 bills and 2,000 resolutions. A total of 770 committee reports have also been filed.

Moreover, a total of 164 resolutions have been adopted, broken down as:

  •     131 regular resolutions;
  •     10 resolutions on inquiries, in aid of legislation;
  •     15 concurrent resolutions;
  •     Four Resolutions of Both Houses;
  •     One report on motu proprio inquiry;
  •     Two resolutions on impeachment; and
  •     One resolution of the Committee of the Whole

Among the notable measures that have been enacted into law is RA 10931 or the "Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act," providing free tuition and miscellaneous fees for students enrolled in State Universities and Colleges, as well as in local colleges and technical-vocational school.

Also noteworthy is RA 10969, or the "Free Irrigation Act," which grants free irrigation to farmers who own not more than eight hectares of land, and condones unpaid irrigation fees by farmers who till the same size of property.

RA 10928, or "An Act Extending The Validity Of Philippine Passports," has likewise lessened the burden of Filipino travelers abroad as passport validity has been extended to 10 years from the previous five years.

Meanwhile, with RA 10930, or the "An Act Extending the Validity Period of Drivers’ Licenses," motorists can now used their licenses for five years instead of three years.

The House has also helped cut red tape and encourage people to do business with the passage of RA 11032 or the "Ease of Doing Business" Law, requiring government agencies to act on applications within three days for simpler transactions, seven days for complex ones, and 20 days for those that are highly-technical.

Moreover, the law requires establishing one-stop shops in every city or town and encourages local government units to have an automated system in processing permits and licenses.

Both houses of Congress have also worked together to ease the plight of the poor and public servants receiving measly salaries.

House Joint Resolution No. 15 and its counterpart Senate Joint Resolution No. 2 mandate that the housing units intended for the uniformed personnel remain unused would be made available to qualified poor beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, House Joint Resolution No. 18 gave military and uniformed personnel an increase in their base pay.

Aside from these, also pending approval from President Rodrigo Duterte after it has passed the bicameral conference committee is the measure providing for the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

The House of Representatives approved its version of the bill with an overwhelming majority vote of 227-11 with two abstentions just last May 30.

Aside from the BBL proposal, the House of Representatives has approved a total of 428 bills on third and final reading and 29 bills on second reading before the sine die adjournment.

Of the measures approved on third reading, 160 are national bills, 268 are local bills and one is a joint resolution.

Among the measures approved on third and final reading are:

  • House Bill 7525, or “An Act Increasing The Monthly Pension Of Senior Veterans”
  • House Bill 7449, or “An Act Appropriating P1,161,710,000 As Supplemental Appropriations to Dengvaxia Vaccinees"
  • House Bill 7303, or “An Act Instituting Absolute Divorce And Dissolution Of Marriage”
  • House Bill 7302 or the “Budget Reform Act”
  • House Bill 3988 or the “Conjugal Partnership Of Gains”
  • House Bill 7185 or “An Act Recognizing The Foreign Decree Of Termination Of Marriage”
  • House Bill 7163 entitled “An Act Penalizing The Act Of Throwing Hard Objects At Motor Vehicles”
  • House Bill 7193 entitled “An Act Providing A Framework For The Right To Adequate Food”
  • House Bill 7233 entitled “An Act Requiring The Registration Of All Users Of Subscriber Identity Module Cards."

— RSJ, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT