New lawmakers take 4-day crash course to learn ropes

BATANGAS Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto led the third batch of 47 first-time lawmakers who attended a crash course on legislative work.

In an interview with reporters during a break in the four-day seminar, Santos said: “These are new challenges as a legislator. I’m learning a lot and I’m willing to learn.”

Around a quarter of the 17th Congress, or 68 lawmakers, are first-time legislators who want to learn how a bill is crafted, from the committee up to the plenary levels.

Some of the 40 returning legislators  also decided to brush up on their lawmaking by attending the seminar conducted by the  House of Representatives Institute for Legislation and Legislative Governance in partnership with the University of the Philippines’ National College of Public Administration and Governance.

Aside from Santos, the neophyte lawmakers who attended the seminar were: Lourdes Aggabao, Marlyn Alonte, Arlene Arcillas, Jennifer Austria-Barzaga,  Joseph Bernos,  Lianda Bolilia,  Gabriel Bordado Jr.,  Luis Jose Campos,  Peter John Calderon;

Ma. Theresa Collantes,  Luis Cuaresma,  Manuel Jose Dalipe, Khalid Dimaporo,  Trina Enverga, Richard Eusebio, Juliet Marie Ferrer,  Jose Enrique Garcia III,  Peter Ruel Gonzaga;

Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Alexandria Gonzales, Gloria Labadlabad, Edward Maceda, Dale Gonzalo Malapitan,  Eric Martinez,  Lucille Nava,  Ramon Nolasco,  Edwin Ongchuan,  Pablo Ortega,  Strike Revilla,  Florida Robes,  Frederick Siao,  Vicente Veloso,  Rosanna Vergara and Divina Grace Yu.

The newbies from the party-list groups who attended the seminar were: Arlene Brosas of Gabriela; Ariel Casilao, Anakpawis; Francisco Cast, ACT-Teacher; Cecilia Chavez, Butil; Salvador Belaro, 1-Ang Edukasyon; Eugenio Michael de Vera, ABS; Benhur Lopez, Yacap; Michael Romero, 1-Pacman, and Allan Jesse Mangaoang, Kalinga.