DEC.

21, 2014

NR # 3687

Belmonte urges continued responsiveness and

forging ahead towards societal and economic transformation
--The 2014 YEAREND REPORT-Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. proudly took exception to the resiliency and strong
solidarity among Filipinos, especially during times of calamities and disasters.
That spirit shone bright once more. Victim-families were helping each other seek shelter
as typhoon Ruby lashed at their communities, a heart-warming and humbling site worth the
worlds emulation, the Speaker said moments before Congress adjourned for the Christmas
holidays on Wednesday evening.
At the same time, the House leader congratulated all his colleagues at the House of
Representatives for their efforts in assisting our people during the most recent typhoon to hit the
country, so close to the Christmas season.
Though this years Ruby was less severe than last years super-typhoon Yolanda, Ruby
nevertheless inflicted losses in lives and property in no small measure, he lamented.
Belmonte, likewise, credited both the national and local governments, as well as the
private sector, for the relief operations conducted before, during, and after Rubys landfall, noting
that the implementation of emergency measures, including the prompt evacuation of thousands of
people in affected areas, was the key to having saved so many lives.
The Speaker expressed his gratitude to his colleagues for their cooperation and hard work
resulting in a harvest of meaningful and responsive legislation bannered by the ratification of
the proposed 2015 P2.6-trillion General Appropriations Act and the P22.4-billion Supplemental
Appropriations for 2014, among others.
Since 2011, a re-enacted budget has become a thing of the past. I trust that the timely
passage of the 2015 GAA will enable the government to roll out its programs and projects
thereby ensuring the continued delivery of vital services to our people, the Speaker said.
He added that the approval of the supplemental budget for 2014 is also vital because
urgent infrastructure, socio-economic rehabilitation, and reconstruction projects, which are not
funded under existing laws, need to be funded and commenced at the earliest possible time.
Belmonte however, stressed that an even greater challenge to the rehabilitation of
typhoon-affected areas would be to provide the means by which victims could be genuinely
empowered.
We should not merely rebuild damaged infrastructure and property, or restore means of
livelihood, or resume disrupted classes. We should also restore hope, confidence, and resolve in
individuals, families and communities, he said.

It is only through genuine empowerment that our people can truly live their own lives,
fend for their own families and carve their own future, Belmonte declared.
Government, the Speaker stressed, must be able to provide more jobs and opportunities for
our people, adding that we can never be satisfied with the status quo.We must continually
move forward with the transformation of our economy and society.
Recalling the bigger chambers achievements during the year 2014, the House leader said
that, apart from the 2015 GAA and the supplemental budget, Congress enacted vital laws that
bear on the countrys economic growth and productivity.
Among the measures in the list of legislative priorities were the following which have
already been enacted into law: 1) RA 10635 Establishing the MARINA as the Single Maritime
Administration; 2) RA 10638 Extending the corporate life of the Philippine National Railways
for another fifty years; 3) RA 10641 Allowing the full entry of foreign banks; 4) RA 10644
Promoting job generation and inclusive growth through the development of Micro, Small and
Medium Enterprises; 5) RA 10645 An Act providing for the mandatory PhilHealth coverage for
all senior citizens; 6) RA 10647 Strengthening the ladderized interface between TechnicalVocational Education and Training and Higher Education; and 7) RA 10648 Providing
Scholarship grants to top graduates of all public schools.
Other important laws include: a) Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act; b) Strengthening the
Anti-Drug Campaign; c) Picture-based (cigarette) Health Warning Act; d) Iskolar ng Bayan Act;
e) Open Learning through Distance Education.
Aside from the ratified 2015 GAA, the House also ratified the bicameral conference
committee report on the amendments to the Fisheries Code, and adopted the Senate version of the
proposed 13th Month tax Exemption. The proposed statute on the establishment of the Open High
School System for out of school youth and adults is under bicameral consideration.
Another vital measure adopted or passed by the House was the much debated Joint
Resolution No. 21 granting President Aquino emergency powers to facilitate the expeditious
acquisition of additional power generating capacities in anticipation of possible power crisis next
year. The House-approved resolution is now awaiting final Senate action.
On the matter of efforts by the government to ensure and sustain peace and national
economic development is the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which is still undergoing
public hearings and consultations being conducted by the House Ad Hoc Committee on the
Bangsamoro chaired by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, to ensure that none of its
provisions would fail the tests of constitutionality, among other concerns.
Records would show that the bigger Chamber has approved on final reading and now
await Senate action are, among others, these priority measures touching on the following
subjects/titles: Establishment of a National Student Loan Program; Health Services Price
Disclosure Act of 2014; Identifying other persons criminally liable for election offenses and
increasing penalties for election-related offenses; Strengthening the Probation System;
Implementing a National Land Use Policy; Increasing the prescriptive period for the filing of
cases of graft and corruption from 15 to 30; Institutionalize a Pre-Hospital Emergency Care
System; Establish a Special Education (SPED) Center for each School Division for Children with

special needs; Establish a Unified Financial Assistance for Students (UNIFAST) program; Magna
Carta of the Poor; The Internal Displacement Act; Delineate Specific Forest Limits of Public
Domain; Establish Credit Assistance for Oversea Workers; Strengthening the Crop Insurance
System; Strengthen the Philippine Comprehensive Policy on Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency syndrome (AIDS); Promote Micro-enterprise
Development Institutions; Amendments to the Sandiganbayan Law; Reforms to the Valuation
System; and Promoting positive discipline and non-violent discipline of children.
Recently approved on second reading was the bill defining and delineating the Maritime
Zones of the Philippines.
Under the Calendar of Business for Plenary consideration, are priority measures like:
Speaker Belmontes pet measure, Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 01, seeking to amend
the Economic Provisions of the 1987 constitution on Foreign Ownership and Equity; Prohibiting
the establishment of Political Dynasties; Strengthening Political Parties; amendments to the
Ombudsman Act; Provide Special Protection of Children in situations of armed conflict;
Establish the National Identification System; and Establish a Competition Policy/ Amend antiTrust law.
Now nearing committee approval with their respective committee reports being prepared
are the following vital measures: Prevent or Minimize Marine Pollution (MARPOL); Promote
Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes Management ; and the bill to Modernize the Bureau of
Customs (BOC).
Likewise, those awaiting comments of the committee on Appropriations/Ways and Means
on the matter of funding are: Freedom of Information Act; amending RA 8974 to facilitate the
acquisition of right-of-way (ROW); Amending the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act;
Protection to Whistle Blowers; Amendments to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP); and
Institute Reforms in the National Food Authority (NFA).
Priority measures undergoing deliberation by their respective technical working groups
(TWG) include: Rationalizing the Fiscal Incentives System; Adoption of Integrated Coastal
Management (ICM); Strengthening the Private Security Industry; Amendment to the Party-list
Law; Reforming the Land Administration System (terminated TWG); Provide for Sustainable
Forest Management; Promote effective Mineral Resources Utilization in support of
Industrialization; Amend the Revised Investment Company Act/Collective Investment Schemes;
and Establish the Archipelagic Sea Lanes in the Philippine Archipelagic Waters.
Undergoing committee deliberations are, among other priorities, measures touching
on: The Bangsamoro Basic Law; Instituting the Criminal Code; Amendments to the EPIRA law
to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the power industry; Regulate the production,
importation, sale, provision, use, recovery, collection and disposal of plastic bags; Establishment
of Crisis Centers; Barangay Officials Welfare and Incentives Act; Tax Incentives Management
and Transparency Act (TIMTA); Enact a National Defense and Security Policy; Promote PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) in infrastructure development; Improve the administration and
enforcement of laws on Immigration; Expand the purpose and application of the Special
Education Fund; Provide direct remittance of LGUs in the National Wealth; and Removing
investment restriction in specific laws cited in the Foreign Investment Negative List.
There are about 25 vital measures on various subjects that are scheduled for committee

deliberation, and they include: Amendment to the Cabotage Law; Rationalize sharing of sharing
of Mining revenues; Strengthen the regulation of Water Utilities; Promote corporate Farming;
Establish a new military justice system; Grant of broader protection to consumers; Review of the
Civil Service Code; Amend the Cybercrime Act; Amend the Anti-Enforced Disappearance Act;
Establish a National Transportation Policy; Establish Integrated Jail Systems; Classify and
penalize Extra Judicial killing as a heinous crime; Creation of the Department of Information and
Communications Technology; and Expand scope of acts constituting sexual harassment.
House statistical records, as of December 17, 2014, state the chamber was in receipt of
some 7,115 measures filed by lawmakers, of which 5,305 are bills and 1,810 are Resolutions. The
total number of committee Reports to date is 527.
The data supplied by the Committee on Rules, chaired by Majority Leader Neptali
Gonzales II, revealed the status of measures as follows: Republic Acts 21 (17 national- 2 Local
and 2 Joint Resolutions); Ratified Bicam Reports (2); Adopted Senate versions (3); Concurred
with Senate Amendments (2); On Bicameral Conference (4); Approved on 3 rd reading (347
national 141, local 203, Joint Resolution 3); Approved on 2 nd reading (2, both national) and 173
adopted Resolution (7 Concurrent, 161 Regular Resolutions, 5 Report on Resolution on
Inquiries), giving a total of 559 measures approved from July 22, 2013 to December 17, 2014.
The measures in the Calendar of Business are 36; measures substituted or consolidated
710, and 411 Resolutions on inquiries referred, for a total of 1,716 measures processed within the
106 session days, or an average of 16 measures processed per session day. (30) dpt