Arroyo: House has processed 1,361 bills since July

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has processed a total 1,361 bills and approved 492 of those measures since July, Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Wednesday.

“Since the Third Session of the 17th Congress opened in July this year, as of an hour ago, we’ve already processed about 1,361 bills, approved 492 of those measures,” Arroyo told lawmakers in a speech during their last plenary session before the chamber adjourned for the Christmas break.

The Pampanga congresswoman also said that of the 492 approved measures, 95 have been passed into law while 39 bills are now ready for the President’s signature. The chamber has also ratified 27 bicameral reports while 25 measures are now with the bicameral conference committee and 22 have been approved on second reading. Thirty-eight resolutions have also been approved.

“We have processed an average of 33 measures per day,” she added.

Arroyo also stressed that she remained true to her “strict but fair and open-minded” leadership and management style.

“My concern is not my legacy as Speaker. My concern is to support President Duterte’s legacy in the year that I have as Speaker,” she said, adding that the House already passed the President’s entire legislative agenda.

READ: Arroyo vows to ‘carry out’ Duterte’s legislative agenda

Arroyo then adjourned the session until Jan. 14, 2019 or “unless the President declares that we should have a special session prior to that.”

On July 23, Arroyo returned to power after 184 House members voted her as the new Speaker, ending Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez’s two-year grip on the post. /ee

READ: Backed by 184 lawmakers, Gloria Arroyo takes oath as Speaker