House of Representatives updates

The House Committee on Basic Education and Culture is conducting a hearing into the K+10+2 bill and other issues concerning education in the country.

The hearing is presided by the House panel chair Rep. Roman Romulo (Pasig City).

Among the House Bill discussed is the:

Unnumbered substitute bill of HB 7893 – An Act Providing Education Pathways For Basic Education Learners By Amending Republic Act No. 10533, Entitled, “An Act Enhancing The Philippine Basic Education System By Strengthening Its Curriculum And Increasing The Number Of Years For Basic Education, Appropriating Funds Therefor And For Other Purposes." — Rosette Adel

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco reports that the official website of the House of Representative which has been hacked and defaced is now fully restored and operational.

In a statement on Monday, Velasco says that there is an ongoing investigation into the unauthorized access. He adds that they are collaborating with relevant law enforcement agencies regarding the probe.

"We have taken comprehensive measures to enhance the security of our site, ensuring that it meets the highest standards of cybersecurity," Velasco says.

"Our aim is to identify and prosecute those responsible for this breach to the fullest extent of the law," he adds. — Rosette Adel

House Speaker Martin Romualdez issues a statement condemning the attack against civilians in Israel

"The devastation and loss suffered by families during such significant moments of reverence are beyond words," he says.

"It is a reminder that the path of violence only deepens wounds and rifts. I urge all involved parties, especially the militant rulers of Hamas, to pave a way toward a peaceful resolution. The history of this region has seen enough bloodshed; sustainable peace is the only way forward," the House leader adds.

He also advised Filipinos in Israel to remain vigilant and prioritize their safety during these turbulent times. — Rosette Adel

House of Representatives resumes the plenary deliberations on the proposed 2024 national budget.

Civil Service Commission faces the plenary on the fifth day of the plenary deliberations. 

House leaders conduct meeting with oil industry players ahead of the looming implementation of hefty price hike on Tuesday, September 19.

The meeting was led by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, according to PTV.

Oil firms have announced around P2 price increase on petroleum products.

The House Committee on Appropriations deliberated on the proposed funding of the Commission on Higher Education for 2024 anew.

CHED Commissioner Prospero De Vera represented the commission during the budget hearing.

A lawmaker files a measure to ensure the profit for farmers.

Rep. Wilbert Lee’s (AGRI Party-list) files the proposed House Bill No. 9020 or the “Cheaper Rice Act”, to make the staple food cheaper for consumers through a subsidy program that will be provided for 2.6 million rice farmers.

Under this proposed bill, the Department of Agriculture, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry and other relevant government agencies will establish a subsidy program to ensure that farmers can sell palay or rice at a higher price that will entice farmers to increase their production.  

The bill also mandates the government to sell the rice it acquires to consumers at cheaper rates. 

The House of Representatives votes to expel Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Negros Oriental, 3rd district) on Wednesday afternoon.

A total of 265 voted in favor of the expulsion while there are three abstentions from the House members.

— Cristina Chi

House ethics panel recommends to the body the expulsion of suspended lawmaker Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. on Wednesday afternoon.

At least 2/3 of House members present need to vote in favor of the recommendation before it is adopted. 

— Cristina Chi

House Committee on Ethics and Privileges continues its hearing into the situation of suspended Rep. Arnie Teves Jr. (Negros Oriental, 3rd District), according to a report of PTV.

Among the attendees include officials from the Department of Justice and National Bureau of Investigation, among others. 

Ferdinand Topacio, legal counsil of Teves, says they urged the House panel to stop tackling the issue involving Teves.

Last Friday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla announces that a panel of prosecutors of the Department of Justice has approved the filing of multiple murder charges against suspended Teves for the deaths of three individuals in Negros Oriental in 2019. This was filed before the Manila regional trial court.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez conducts inspection at the Nepa Q Mart, Quezon City on Monday morning to check the pricces of onion, rice and other agricultural commodities.

PTV reports that he was accompanied by House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo.

In an interview with the press, Romualdez says the surprise inspection will be conducted regularly, citing that it would help determine the supply locally as well as the need for importation of supplies.

The House of Representatives is set to deliberate the 2024 National Budget on Thursday, PTV reports.

The administration's economic team composed of the Development Budget Coordination Committe, Department of Budget and Management,  National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Finance and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, will be the first to undergo budget deliberation.

The proposed national budget for 2024 is P5.678 trillion.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez and other members of the House of Representatives are set to attend activities for the 44th ASEAN-Inter-Parliamentary Assembly General Assembly in Jakarta, Indonesia.

PTV reports that Romualdez met with his counterpart National Assembly of Vietnam President Vuong Dinh Hue on Sunday.

The House of Representatives approves on third and final reading the bill that automatically declares national elections day as non-working holiday.  

“With this proposed legislation, we hope to get the maximum participation of our voters in the national elections which is one of the most important activities that they should do as Filipinos," House Speaker Martin Romualdez was quoted by PTV. 

Speaker Martin Romualdez administers oath of office to Erwin Tulfo as representative of  Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Support and Involvement (ACT-CIS) partylist. He is the third nominee of the party-list.

Early this month, the Commission on Elections ruled to allow Tulfo to become the replacement nominee for the party-list. This ruling affirms an earlier decision by the poll body's Second Division. 

The House of Representatives releases a memo dated July 27 announcing that all members must go back to a full face-to-face work setup by August 1.

All House members are also required to attend in-person hearings following the lifting of the state of public emergency due to the pandemic.

LOOK: The House of Representatives will go back to a full face-to-face work setup by Aug. 1 according to a July 27 memo. All House members are also required to attend in-person hearings following the lifting of the state of public emergency due to the pandemic. @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/onpnWDeUeV

— Cristina Chi ???? (@chicristina_) July 28, 2023

A lawmaker on Wednesday urges the government to prepare for El Niño.

Wilbert Lee renewed his call for the creation of a Department of Water Resources, citing that the country needs a sustainable water resources management program to address the impact of El Niño.

“This is not the first or the last time we will deal with this critical problem, which is why we need a Department of Water Resources," he says.

Lee first filed House Bill No. 2880, which seeks to create the said agency in August last year. 

A lawmaker considers the new Agrarian Emancipation Act set to be signed on Friday by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr as a "win" for farmers.

In a release, Rep. Wilber Lee (AGRI Party-list), principal author of the House version of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, says that the new law would allow farmers to further increase their productivity by providing them additional financial resources through the condonation of their annual amortization and interests, including penalties or surcharges. 

"Finally, they will be unburdened of their loans, interests, and penalties that contribute to their inability to overcome poverty, and are also major factors that have kept them from becoming fully productive," the solon says. 

On Eid'l Adha, Rep. Wilbert Lee (AGRI Party-list) calls for speedy passage of House Bill No. 1299, or the Right to Adequate Food Act, as he called for the strict implementation of the food and security roadmap for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

“As we celebrate Eid’l Adha, the feast of Sacrifice, I call on the government for the swift passage of measures that will guarantee help in ensuring food security for our Muslim brothers and sisters,” Lee says.

“Malaking bagay po na bumaba ang poverty incidence sa rehiyon, ayon na rin sa huling tala ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), pero kailangan pa rin tandaan na 37.4 percent ng populasyon ng BARMM, o katumbas na 1.71 milyon na pamilya, ay naghihirap,” he adds.

Rep. Rufus Rodriquez (Cagayan de Oro) files a resolution seeking the suspension of the franchise granted to Cebu Pacific.

House Resolution No. 1101, seeks to suspend the franchise granted to Cebu Air, Inc under Republic Act no. 7151 to establish, operate and maintain transport services for the carriage of passenger, mail goods and property by air.

The solon cites that the budget carrier "has a history of unsatisfactory service to the public."

Makabayan bloc lawmakers Rep. Arlene Brosas (Gabriela Women's Party), France Castro (ACT Teachers Partylist) and Raoul Manuel (Kabataan Partylist) on Wednesday file a resolution before the House of Representatives to probe the complaints against budget airline Cebu Pacific.

House Resolution No. 1093 urges the Committee on Transportation to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, into the complaints against the budget carrier, particularly the overbooking, offloading and booking glitches.

This comes as the Senate tourism and public services committees also conducted a probe into the complaints of Cebu Pacific passengers inconvenienced by recent incidents of overbooking, offloading and online booking glitches.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. invites Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the Malacañang during the courtesy call of members of Thai company Charoen Pokphand, which plans to increase its investments in the PH, as seen in a post of Macapagal-Arroyo.

"In their courtesy call, they confirmed that they will expand their investments to help the Philippines in the quest of the Marcos administration to develop a model value chain in the country," the post reads.

— Cristina Chi

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo denies rumors that she was "duped" by a congresswoman into planning a coup against House Speaker Romualdez after being told the plan had the blessings of First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos.

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo denies rumors that she was "duped" by a congresswoman into planning a coup against House Speaker Romualdez after being told the plan had the blessings of First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos.@PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/zWt9AUPMKM

— Cristina Chi ???? (@chicristina_) May 28, 2023

Arroyo also reminds the public of her role in shaping the UniTeam coalition, says she made a "humble contribution to the joining of forces that became the UniTeam" and the House supermajority and "would never take any action to destroy it. — Cristina Chi

The House of Representatives elects Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, Jr. to replace ex-president Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as senior deputy speaker to “unburden” her from “the heavy load required from the position.” 

The notice came from House Majority Leader Manuel Dalipe. Rep. Macapagal-Arroyo’s camp has yet to give a statement to the media. — Cristina Chi

Bookmark this page for the latest breaking news on the House of Representatives. Photo courtesy of The STAR/Michael Varcas