Solon wants live TV coverage of House sessions

Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza has come up with an idea to compel lawmakers to attend House sessions. INQUIRER PHOTO

A solon has pitched an idea to compel lawmakers to attend sessions and resolve absenteeism.

In a statement, Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza reiterated the need to pass his House Bill No. 4049 filed last year for the live coverage of plenary sessions and committee hearings in the House of Representatives.

Atienza said his bill sought to amend the People’s Television Network charter or Republic Act No. 7306 adding to the network functions the live proceedings of House meetings and sessions without editing or commentary.

Atienza also said the bill sought to resolve quorum woes that stalled the legislative mill by presenting to the public a live coverage of their representatives’ duties.

“This will encourage our fellow members to attend and actively participate in floor deliberations of important bills and resolutions.  As opposed to what has been happening for the past three weeks where there were only a handful of us in attendance, so the sessions were either adjourned or measures were being taken up even without a quorum,” Atienza said.

Atienza added that a live coverage of sessions on the plenary would prevent the railroading of bills that only favored the administration.

He cited what he deemed the railroading of the partial divorce bill which he opposed but was passed on final reading on Monday.

The partial divorce bill, or House Bill No. 5907, seeks to allow Filipinos with foreign spouses to remarry once the alien spouse obtains a decree of absolute divorce from a foreign judicial body.

“What is the need to rush certain bills without discussing them lengthily on the floor?  The partial divorce bill was voted on in this manner the other day,” Atienza said.

“A full deliberation and debate should be entertained, and the necessary amendments can be made.  This must go thru the wringer of lawmaking procedures so it can be fine-tuned and not be used as a political tool of any administration,” he added.

For his part, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said he would rather remind members to attend the sessions instead of resorting to punitive measures to compel them.

“This House here has been characterized over the past five years by terrific harmony. That harmony is more achievable by good relations not by scaring people or warning people. We’re not divisive … It’s a better strategy to work in harmony with each other,” Belmonte said.

Due to absent solons, the lower chamber was able to meet a quorum only five times in the past four weeks since President Benigno Aquino III opened the third regular session with his State of the Nation Address. Marc Jayson Cayabyab/RC