House: 2,100 measures processed in 145 days

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives adjourned for the Christmas holidays this week after processing 2,100 measures in the first 145 days of its session that started in July last year.

In a report to Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said members filed a total of 8,528 measures, of which 6,911 were bills or proposed laws, while 1,617 were resolutions.

He said the different committees managed to finish their hearings on various measures and issues, and submitted a total of 552 committee reports.

He said the House processed a total of 2,100 bills and resolutions during the past 145 session days, or a daily average of 14.

As of last Thursday, Fariñas reported that there were 39 bills enacted into law.

He said several others are expected to be signed into law by President Duterte, including 12 conference committee reports that the House ratified before Wednesday’s adjournment.

These include the proposed P3.8-trillion 2018 national budget, the so-called tax reform bill that would impose a P6 tax on diesel, kerosene, cooking gas and bunker fuel for electricity generation over three years up to 2020, and a bill authored by Fariñas which declares Dec. 8 of every year a special non-working day to celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Additionally, the House would send to the President a clean copy of Bill 6016 authored by Winston Castelo of Quezon City, which mandates that gift cards, checks or certificates would have no expiry date and should be honored by business establishments anytime they are presented.

Fariñas said the House also approved 354 bills on third and final reading, adopted 100 resolutions and consolidated or substituted 1,017 proposed laws.

He said the resolutions include those expressing support for President Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao and extending it by one year up to the end of 2018.

He said the resolution authorizing an increase in the basic pay of soldiers and policemen was among the measures approved this week.

Fariñas pointed out that the House accomplished all these while hearing the impeachment cases filed against President Duterte, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and former chairman Andres Bautista of the Commission on Elections.