House Speaker Martin Romualdez (File photo from the official website of House of Representatives /congress.gov.ph)
MANILA, Philippines — For the first time in the 19th Congress, committees of the House of Representatives have been allowed to hold hearings while Congress goes on a recess from September 30 to November 5.
During the session late Wednesday night, Deputy Majority Leader and Pangasinan 6th District Representative Marlyn Primicias-Agabas moved to allow the committees to continue working and conduct hearings as needed.
This motion was approved by House Deputy Speaker and Ilocos Sur 2nd District Representative Kristine Singson-Meehan.
Meehan was presiding over the session at that point.
Previously, when Congress took a break in October 2022 after the conclusion of the first regular session, committees were not instructed to conduct hearings.
This new directive allows committees to tackle and deliberate bills submitted to them.
This schedule will enable the panels to have time to prepare the final versions of the measures.
Once the legislative pieces are done, they can be submitted for consideration on a second reading when the session resumes on November 6.
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said it was his instruction to let lawmakers hold and participate in crafting “noteworthy and meaningful legislative measures.”
These documents include bills that tackle the rising cost of goods and basic commodities.
“While we already passed almost all of our priority bills listed under LEDAC (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council) and Sona (State of the Nation Address), we want to accelerate the passage of other House priority legislations,” Romualdez said in a statement.
“We still have a lot on our legislative table, and other urgent measures are in various stages of deliberation,” he noted.
During the session, the Speaker thanked his colleagues for working hard to pass the Ledac-priority bills and also, the proposed 2024 national budget or the General Appropriations Bill.
READ: House OKs proposed P5.768 trillion 2024 budget on final reading
Romualdez also praised the lawmakers for the early passage of all Ledac-priority bills.
“These 20 priority measures are targeted for approval on third reading by the end of this year, and ladies and gentlemen, we are three (3) months ahead of the target set during the Ledac meeting,” he said on Wednesday night.
“Salamat sa tulong ninyong lahat. Mission accomplished po tayo, tatlong buwan bago matapos ang deadline na napagkasunduan na ng Senado, House of Representatives, at Executive Department,” he added.
(Thank you for your help. We have accomplished our mission three months before the deadline agreed upon by Senate, House, and the Executive Department.)
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