House okays 15 bills

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives approved on Wednesday night 15 bills, including 12 priority measures, before going on a break for the Holy Week.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said despite the attention and work devoted to the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona “across town,” the chamber continued to act with dispatch on pending measures.

“Our primary function of lawmaking did not take a backseat,” Belmonte told reporters.

“Like our common folks who carry pails of water on their shoulders, this House - since the resumption of session on Jan. 16, 2012 - has had to lift a dual burden which the Constitution imposes upon it -that of enacting laws for the greater good, and of enforcing public accountability among a select group of government officers removable only by impeachment,” the Speaker said in his adjournment message to lawmakers.

House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales said except for some contentious measures, the chamber was on track in approving remaining priority bills listed by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) before Congress adjourns sine die in June.

At the same time, Belmonte commended the panel prosecuting Chief Justice Renato Corona in his Senate impeachment trial, its spokespersons and its secretariat.

“To the 188 members, plus the additional 13, not a single one of whom wavered as the proceedings unfolded, maraming salamat sa inyo,” he said.

He was referring to the 188 House members who signed the impeachment complaint against Corona last Dec. 12.

Before adjourning its session, the House passed on third and final reading three priority administration measures: Bill 5715 - providing for the protection, security and benefits of whistleblowers; Bill 5860 - providing for the delineation of the specific forest limits of the public domain; and Bill 5932 - penalizing the stealing of government risk reduction and preparedness equipment.

Also approved on third reading were: Bill 98 - defining and penalizing enforced or involuntary disappearance; Bill 5460 - providing incentives for the manufacture, assembly, conversion and importation of electric, hybrid and other alternative fuel vehicles; Bill 5854 - amending Republic Act No. 8239, otherwise known as The Philippine Passport Act Of 1996; Bill 5870 - authorizing the Land Management Bureau to conduct a survey of cadastral lots in the entire country;

Bill 5567 - designation a cooperatives officer in every local government unit; Bill 5751 - requiring mandatory testing of pregnant women before undergoing cosmetic surgery; Bill 5851 - regulating the practice of metallurgical engineering; Bill 5868 - upholding the constitutional right of the people to information on matters of public concern on food; Bill 834 - honoring and granting additional benefits and privileges to Filipino centenarians; and Bill 5990 - providing compensation to victims of human rights violations during the Marcos regime.

The House approved seven other bills on second reading. Congress will resume session on May 7.

Gonzales said there are 15 priority measures in the LEDAC list that are already in the appropriations committee, which means the bills would be approved on the floor as soon as they are released by the panel. – With Jess Diaz