APRIL 2, 2012 DATE

NR # 2697B
REF. NO.

House passes 446 measures for the first quarter of 2012

The House of Representatives has approved some 446 measures and ratified the bicameral report on the Strengthening and Propagating Foster Care for Abandoned and Neglected Children and Children with Special Needs for the first quarter of 2012. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said since July 26, 2010 until the adjournment for the Lenten season, the lower chamber processed some 3,088 measures during the 123 session days for an average of 25 measures per session day. Despite the various challenges facing us, including the on-going impeachment trial, each member of the House of Representatives was never remiss in his/her responsibilities to their constituents, Belmonte said. Since the start of the 15th Congress, some 6,057 bills and 2,349 Resolutions were filed, while some 2,064 Committee Reports were submitted to the Committee on Rules for appropriate plenary action. Of those processed, 2,099 were approved. During the last two months, the House ratified the separate bicameral reports on the conversion of the municipalities of Imus and Bacoor in Cavite into component cities. Likewise, the respective bicam reports on the conversion of the municipalities of Mabalacat in Pampanga and of Cabuyao in Laguna into component cities were ratified. These four bills are now awaiting action by the President. Also awaiting the signature of the President are six national bills, among which are: HB 5640 An Act regulating the practice of Geology in the Philippines, repealing for the purpose R.A. 4209, otherwise known as Geology Profession Law of the Philippines; HB 5624 An Act Establishing the Career Execfutive System; and HB 4936 An Act Decriminalizing Vagrancy amending for this purpose Article 202 of Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code. The total number of measures approved as of March 21, 2012 is 2,099, which include 11 national bills and 2 Joint Resolutions enacted into law; 202 national bills and 425 local bills approved on 3rd reading; 10 national and 57 local bills passed on 2nd reading; 10 Concurrent Resolutions, 251 Regular Resolutions and 1,101 Resolutions on Inquiries adopted; and 9 reports on resolutions on inquiries recorded. Also reflected in the statistical record from the Committee on Rules are the Report on Impeachment and the endorsement to the Senate of the Verified Complaint versus Supreme Court chief Justice Renato Corona. However, the President vetoed the following measures: HB 06 (SB 02869) An

APRIL 2, 2012 DATE

NR # 2697B
REF. NO.

Act prescribing a fixed term for the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and for other purposes; and HB 05246 (SB 02802) An Act recognizing the early years from zero (0) to Six (6) as the first crucial stage of development and for this purpose strengthening the Early Childhood Care and Development Council, renaming the Day Care Center as Child Development Center, and for other purposes. The most recent measure signed into law by the President was Republic Act 10157 (HB 03826) now known as An Act Institutionalizing the Kindergarten Education into the Basic Education System and appropriating funds therefor, enacted on January 20, 2012. There are two national measures pending in a bicameral conference committee: HB 04807 An Act Prohibiting Racial, Ethnic and Religious Discrimination; and HB 04667 An Act Creating the Department of Information and Communications Technology, defining its powers and functions, appropriating funds therefor, and for other purposes. The data released by the Rules Committee included measures still in the calendar of business numbering 13 measures under plenary consideration and some 56 others scheduled to be deliberated on in plenary. (30) dpt