House resumes session, passes 5 bills

MANILA, Philippines – After taking a three-month-long break for the midterm elections, members of the House of Representatives came back for one last session day on Wednesday.

Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tanada III banged the gavel at past 4 p.m. marking the resumption of session.

House of Representatives. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net

Deceased lawmakers as well as “graduating” third term congressmen will be recognized during session.

The House of Representatives will also tackle unfinished business before it adjourns, ending the 15th Congress and paving the way for the 16th Congress which will be opened July during President Benigno Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address.

Legislators passed five bills on third and final reading the bill strengthening the Animal Welfare Act, the Revised Carnapping Act, the bill mandating all higher institutions to create crime prevention committees, the Revised GSIS act, and the bill Declaring the Peñablanca a Protected Landscape located in the Province of Cagayan.

The House of Representatives also ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the amendment of the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act.

Despite earlier plans for just one last session day before they go on sine die, House majority leader Neptali Gonzales II said that they would resume work Thursday due to unfinished business.