House honors 74 outgoing solons

74 graduating lawmakers are feted in the House of Representatives PHOTO/ Pathricia Ann V. Roxas

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives paid tribute to its 74 graduating congressmen in the chamber, including Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whose terms will end on June 30.

Plaques of appreciation were given to all outgoing House members while Arroyo, Deputy Speakers, Minority Leader Danilo Suarez of the 3rd district of Quezon, and Majority Leader Fredenil Castro of the 2nd district of Capiz also received various mementos from the House employees, including a congressional sash and replicas of the House mace and gavel.

Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivers her farewell speech. PHOTO/Path Roxas

During her farewell speech, Arroyo reiterated that her concern has always been to support President Rodrigo Duterte’s legacy.

“My concern has not been on my legacy as Speaker – my concern as Speaker was to support President Duterte’s legacy in the year that I had as the head of this House,” said the outgoing Pampanga 2nd district representative whose congressional seat was won by her son Juan Miguel or Mikey.

“I thank God for giving me the rare privilege to serve as President, which is the highest nationally-elected position in the land, and as Speaker of the House, which is the highest ranking locally-elected official of the Philippines,” she added.

From July 23, 2018, 250 bills have been passed into law, according to Arroyo.

These 250 new laws were among the 880 measures the House approved, which in turn were among the almost 2,500 measures the lower chamber processed, she added.

“The 880 measures we approved include all the bills highlighted by President Rodrigo Duterte in his 2018 State of the Nation Address,” Arroyo said.

The former President then emphasized the importance of shifting the chamber’s focus to its oversight function as it finished the legislative agenda laid down by the President.

The former President then emphasized the importance of shifting the chamber’s focus to its oversight function as it finished the legislative agenda laid down by the President.

“In the first 3 years of President Duterte’s Administration, many good seeds were planted by way of Executive decisions, the legislative agenda, strategic foreign engagements, and bold reform,” Arroyo pointed out.

“In the remaining years of his term, we just all need to help in the implementation to harvest the fruits of those seeds within President Duterte’s term,” she continued.

The House also held its last plenary session on Tuesday afternoon. The 17th Congress’ sine die adjournment is on June 8, while the next Congress will open on July 22.