FEB.

19, 2013

NR # 3020

House committees authorized to conduct hearings during the break

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. today clarified that standing and special committees of the House of Representatives have been authorized by plenary to, when necessary, conduct public hearings or inquiries even during the current break. The House in plenary has approved a resolution last February 6 authorizing all committees to, if necessary, conduct their respective public hearings or inquiries, in aid of legislation, during the current break until resumption in June, Belmonte said. Congress adjourned its sessions last February 7 and will resume on June 3 before its formal sine die adjournment on June 7, which signals the end of the 3rd and last regular session of the 15th congress. The current session break is to afford members of Congress senators and congressmen time to campaign for the coming May mid-term elections for 12 new members of the Senate and all positions in the House of Representatives, as well as for other local positions. Meanwhile, House records (until February 6th) show there are 304 Congressapproved measures 79 of national and 225 of local concern now under review by the Office of the President for subsequent enactment into law or, in rare cases, could be vetoed by the President. The President, in not so rare cases, may allow measures submitted for his signature to lapse into law, as provided for under the Constitution. It is provided that a proposed statute may lapse into law without the signature of the President 30 days after receipt of the measure. Among those pending in the Office of the President, as of February 6th, include the following: 1) HB 4241 An Act Providing for early voting to qualified members of media; 2) HB Amendment to The Rural Bank Act of 1992; 3) HB 5484 An Act providing for a comprehensive regulation of firearms. Light weapons and ammunition, penalizing violations, repealing PD 1866; 4) HB 5509 An Act mandating the use of highly accessible polling places for persons with disabilities, senior citizens and expectant mothers; 5) HB 5490 An Act providing stiffer penalties for acts in violation of the meat inspection system amending R.A. 9296 or The Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines; 6) HB 4484 An Act providing for a Magna Carta of the Poor; 7) HB 5990 An Act providing compensation to victims of human rights violations during the Marcos regime, documentations of said violations, appropriating funds therefor, and for other purposes; 8) HB 6735 An Act institutionalizing the Philippine National Health Research System; 9) HB 6685 An Act strengthening Tripartism, amending the Labor Code of the

Philippines; 10) HB 6548 An Act promoting agricultural and fisheries mechanization development in the country; and HB 6565 Further strengthening the Anti-Money Laundering Law, amending RA 9160, among other vital bills of national importance. Other measures awaiting the signature of the President are numerous separate measures mandating the creation of additional court salas all over the country and some 225 local measures of various concerns. Human rights measures are also being fine-tuned in bicameral panels, among which are: 1) HB 4807 Prohibiting Racial, Ethnic and Religious discrimination; 2) HB 4643 Expanding the prohibited Act of discrimination against women on account of sex, amending Articles 135 and 137 lf the Labor Code of the Philippines; and 3) HB 6024 Strengthening The Juvenile Justice System in the Philippines. (30) dpt