No work, no pay for lawmakers?

Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco has filed a “no work, no pay” measure for lawmakers to discourage frequent absenteeism in  Congress.

Tiangco’s House Bill No. 412 would impose a pay cut on  representatives who do not attend regular or special sessions of Congress.

A representative gets a salary of P97,163 a month.

In the explanatory note of his bill,  Tiangco said the multiple absences of some members of  Congress resulting   in the absence of a quorum delayed the prompt passage of pertinent bills.

“Some members of Congress have failed to promptly, effectively and efficiently carry out and perform the mandate of their office by reason of their failure to regularly attend the sessions of Congress,” Tiangco said.

Tiangco said the lack of a  policy to discourage or sanction frequent absenteeism may be a factor affecting poor attendance in Congress.

Tiangco noted that Congress used to hold sessions  from Monday to Thursday but since hardly anybody went to office on the fourth day, Congress leaders decided to shorten the work week to three days. “Despite this change in session days, the attendance of house members has not improved,” said Tiangco.

Tiangco’s bill, however, may not sit well with other lawmakers.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, for one,  said he would oppose Tiangco’s bill, saying it was “demeaning” to the lawmakers.

 ‘Demeaning’

“We are not daily wage earners to be subjected to a no-work-no-pay scheme. I think it’s demeaning to our positions as elected officials,” Lacson said in a text message.

He said Tiangco’s bill was “good copy for the media but I think it won’t pass.”

“I will oppose it if only to maintain the dignity and honor of the legislature and its members.”

“We are responsible officials and we answer to our constituents when we misbehave or commit a misdemeanor like not attending sessions whimsically or without justifiable reason,” Lacson said.

Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, who has moved up to the Senate, and Negros Occidental Rep. Jules Ledesma, who just finished his third and final term, were top contenders for having the least sessions attended in the 16th Congress. Pacquiao was present in only four sessions while Ledesma showed up for seven days.