Drilon says 16th Congress doing well in legislative work

MANILA, Philippines - The issue on the alleged misuse of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), better known as the pork barrel fund, by some legislators has not discouraged Congress from fulfilling its mandate.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said the current 16th Congress managed to outdo the 15th Congress in the first regular session, which covers a period of close to 12 months.

“Not only have we maintained our focus on the tasks that had earned us our membership in this august chamber, we have also outpaced the legislative output of the previous Congress,” Drilon said in a speech during adjournment of the 16th Congress Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the House of Representatives would be able to recover its good image through continuous hard work, as he vowed to fight “assaults on the integrity of the chamber.”

Belmonte said the House closed on a hopeful note, owing to the slew of socio-economic and anti-corruption measures it has enacted.

“We cannot wish away nor remain silent on the unremitting assaults on the integrity of this House and of its members, often without basis, in the wake of the PDAF controversy,” he said.

The speaker said their accomplishment in the first regular session must and should speak for the lawmakers as public servants, and as representatives of their people.

Drilon said that during adjournment of the first regular session of the 15th Congress, three measures were enacted into law, six bills transmitted for approval of the President, eight bills approved on second and third reading, and one treaty concurred.

“For the same period in the 16th Congress, six measures were enacted into law, nine for approval of the President, nine approved on second and third reading, and three treaties concurred,” he said.

Belmonte said the House was able to process and consolidate 1,097 measures to produce 328 committee reports for plenary action.

He said within 71 session days, the House passed five Republic Acts, transmitted 10 national bills for the President’s approval, approved 212 bills on third reading, and adopted 107 resolutions.

“As we adjourn, there are 212 House-initiated national bills awaiting Senate action,” he said.

Drilon assumed as Senate president at the start of the first regular session in July last year, taking over from Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, who held the post since 2010.

Shortly after he assumed the post, Drilon was faced with the pork barrel issue involving some members of the Senate, which damaged the image of the institution.

Belmonte said when the 16th Congress opened a year ago, the people were riding high on the accomplishments of the previous Congress.

He said the Senate and the House worked closely and passed significant bills within weeks before adjournment.

“We (Senate and House) have pledged to ensure that the performance of this 16th Congress surpasses that of any preceding it. No scandal or controversy should keep us from performing our functions and duties as duly-elected representatives of our constituencies,” Belmonte said.

Drilon admitted it was a difficult and challenging journey for the Senate, as the PDAF controversy refused to die down.

“We cannot deny that the PDAF controversy has cast a long, dark shadow over the institution. And we completely understand the people’s outrage. The members of this august chamber collectively sought ways to address the issue. We abolished the PDAF even before the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional. We conducted our own investigation on the alleged misuse of the pork barrel funds,” he said.

Drilon said by undertaking these measures, they are telling the people that the Senate is listening to their pleas and clamor for reforms.

“We are sending a clear and strong message that their Senate is sensitive to their grievances and concerns,” he said.

Belmonte said the House last year approved the 2014 budget ahead of time and passed P14.6-billion supplemental appropriations, and realigned the PDAF for areas hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Awaiting transmission and approval by the President were bills seeking to extend the life of the Philippine National Railways, strengthening consumer protection in the purchase of brand new vehicles or “the Lemon Law,” liberalizing the entry and operations of foreign banks, promotion of micro, small and medium enterprises, and the graphic or picture-based health warning law in tobacco products.

Among the measures the Senate passed and enacted into law were bills aimed at helping areas hit by natural and man-made calamities recover and rebuild lives.