House of Representatives. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Despite being deemed a historic year for the approval of many important bills, the House of Representatives’ official records showed that only 36 of its 283 members registered perfect attendance.
A copy of the attendance record of the lower chamber of the 15th Congress that out of the 35 who registered perfect attendance, 25 were “actually present” during all 61 sessions throughout the year.
This meant that these members were present in all 61 sessions:
-Diwa Representative Emmeline Aglipay
-Camarines Sur Representative Diosdado Arroyo
-Pangasinan Representative Leopoldo Bataoil
-Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.
-Occidental Mindoro Representative Ma. Amelita Calimbas-Villarosa
-Pasay Representative Imelda Calixto-Rubiano
-Mountain Province Representative Maximo Dalog
-Cebu City Representative Rachel Marguerite Del Mar
-Abono Representative Robert Estrella
-Camarines Sur Representative Salvio Fortuno
-Bataan Representative Albert Garcia
-Paranaque Representative Roilo Golez
-Albay Representative Fernando Gonzales
-Senior Citizens Representative David Kho
-Albay Representative Edcel Lagman
-Ating Koop Representative Isidro Lico
-Una ang Pamilya Representative Reena Concepcion Obillo
-Coop Natcco Representative Cresente Perez
-Agham Representative Angelo Palmones
-Bulacan Representative Pedro Pancho
-Bukidnon Representative Jesus Paras
-A Teacher Representative Mariano Piamonte
-Sorsogon Representative Deogracias Ramos Jr
-House minority leader Danilo Suarez
-Bukidnon Representative Jose Zubiri III
But under the House Rules, legislators authorized to attend meetings of committees, Commission of Appointments, House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal, bicameral conference committees, and those on official mission were “deemed present.”
Here are the 11 congressmen who reached perfect attendance but were “deemed present” for certain sessions:
-Isabela Representative Giorgidi Aggabao
-Quezon City Representative Jorge Banal
-Quezon City Representative Winston Castelo
-Capiz Representative Antonio del Rosario
-Bagong Henerasyon Partylist Representative Bernadette Herrera-Dy
-An Waray Representative Florencio Noel
-Antipolo Representative Robert Puno
-Marikina Representative Romero Federico Quimbo
-Bohol Representative Rene Relampagos
-Sulu Representative Jesus Sacdalan
-Cibac Representative Sherwin Tugna
Lack of quorum has plagued the last few sessions of the House in 2012, something which has been attributed to the nearing of the campaign period for the midterm polls. This prompted the House leadership to send reminders for congressmen to show up during session.
These are the 10 lawmakers who had the most absences:
-Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
-Iloilo Representative Augusto Syjuco
-Sarangani Representative Emmanuel Pacquiao
-Pampanga Representative Anna York Bondoc
-Pampanga Representative Carmelo Lazatin
-Masbate Representative Narciso Bravo
-Camarines Sur Representative Rolando Andaya
-Iloilo Representative Ferjenel Biron
-Cavite Representative Erineo Maliksi
-TUCP Representative Democrito Mendoza
Despite the low turnout during sessions, Belmonte has earlier described the current Congress to be historic in that it has passed a 972 vital measures, some of which were highly divisive and contentious like the Reproductive Health and Sin Tax Bills which have now been signed into law.