80 neophyte congressmen to undergo orientation
Some 80 neophyte or first-time members of the House of Representatives – one of the biggest in Congress’ political history – are set to undergo an orientation seminar tomorrow to familiarize them with their new legislative functions.
There are around 104 first-term congressmen, 20 or so of whom are returning lawmakers who hibernated after their maximum nine-year term, while the remaining 140 others in the 244-man chamber are either second or third-termers.
The half-day orientation (8 a.m.-12 noon) will start with the presentation of House officials, led by Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and his deputies, and the secretariat functions of the chamber, which will be discussed by House Deputy Secretary General Ramon Roque.
The correct use of parliamentary rules as well as the constitutional scope and restraints of legislation will be taken up by re-elected Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong, who had a short stint as justice secretary.
Reps. Jesus Crispin Remulla of
“Like in school, freshmen are told what to do and expect. It’s normal and we need to tell them the importance of quorum and committee work,” said House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles, incoming head of the House contingent of the Commission on Appointments.
Youngest, oldest
The youngest lawmaker in the House is 25-year-old neophyte Rep. Sharee Ann Tan, who beat political kingpin Catalino Figueroa in
The incoming 14th Congress, which will open on July 23, has a total of 53 lady members of the House, the highest number so far in Philippine political history.
The women lawmakers – 45 of whom come from the regular congressional districts while the remainder are from party-list organizations – will soon be a force to reckon with as it comprises almost one-fourth of the formerly 236-man lower chamber.
The previous 13th Congress had a total of 37 lady legislators, three of them from left-wing party-list groups – Reps. Etta Rosales and Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel of Akbayan and Liza Maza of women’s group Gabriela – while the rest were from congressional districts.
Baraquel and Maza were re-elected while Rosales ended her nine-year term last June 30.
Of the 45 incoming female lawmakers, 23 were re-elected, 12 are neophytes, eight are wives of congressmen whose third and last terms expired last June 30 and two are veterans and returning legislators.
The number of legislators have also risen in the 14th Congress, from 236 to 244.
New districts
Eight legislative districts have been added to the previous 212 regular districts, for a total of 220 congressional districts. The remainder (around 24) will come from several party-list groups.
Former lone districts of
Shariff Kabunsuan, which was formerly included in Maguindanao province, has also become a regular district, represented by returning Rep. Didagen Dilangalen, who used to represent Maguindanao in the 12th Congress.
All in all, there are eight new regular districts that will be added to the former 236-man chamber. Of the current 244 House members, 32 of them belong to the opposition or minority bloc, while the rest (or 212) are members of the administration coalition.
- Latest
- Trending
