Plenary session in Batangas a move to ‘listen’ to victims, not disturb

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the plenary session in Batangas City on Wednesday is a move to directly listen to the victims of Taal Volcano and not to disturb them.

“Ayaw naman po namin na makagulo o may safety threat kapag kami ay nag-sesyon sa Batangas pero napagkaisahan po naming lahat na importante po ay we’re there to listen,” Cayetano said in a Facebook live on Tuesday night.

(We do not want to disturb or cause security threat when we hold our session in Batangas but we have agreed that it is important for us to be there to listen.)

“Pakinggan talaga diretso at mas magulo pa kung 300 congressman ay isa-isang pumunta at magbigay ng relief efforts,” the Speaker added.

(Listen to the victims directly and it is more chaotic if 300 congressmen would pay a visit one-by-one to give relief efforts.)

The House of Representatives will hold its plenary session on Wednesday, Jan. 22, in Batangas province.

In a privilege speech on Monday, Cayetano urged lawmakers to come up with “long-lasting, reliable solutions, programs, mechanisms, to address disaster and calamity.”

“Promise namin sa inyo, magiging relevant, responsive, at reliable ang Kongreso and the session is the highest form of congregation—or the plenary is supreme sa Congress,” Cayetano said.

(We promise that the Congress will be relevant, responsive and reliable and the session is the highest form of congregation; the plenary is supreme in Congress.)

“That’s why gusto po namin, as a symbolic gesture sa mga kababayan sa Calabarzon na yung session ang dalhin sa inyo hindi para makagulo, hindi para kung saan pa man but makinig sa inyo and to really let you know that we’re here for you,” he added.

(As a symbolic gesture to our countrymen in Calabarzon, we want to bring the session to you not to disturb, but to listen to you and to really let you know that we’re here for you.)