House members urged to adopt ‘no work, no pay’ policy

MANILA, Philippines - A “no work, no pay” policy for members of Congress should be adopted to discourage lawmakers from skipping plenary sessions, Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga proposed yesterday.

He said such policy should be implemented just like for ordinary employees in both the government and private sectors who do not receive compensation when absent.

“Members of Congress who do not attend sessions should not receive compensation,” Barzaga said.

“It’s about time that this basic rule should be applied to all, regardless of the elective position a person is holding, in order to address effectively absenteeism in government service,” he said.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. earlier said he is mulling measures to ensure attendance during plenary sessions in the 291-member House of Representatives.

Belmonte issued the statement as Congress is under pressure to pass several key measures by the end of year or before the election season sets in. The measures include the proposed P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016 as well as the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.

The House leader met recently with leaders of various parties and groups in the chamber to call their attention to the lack of quorum in the last two weeks.

He said he was thinking of regularly releasing the names of lawmakers who were present in plenary sessions.

“We’re not going to have a maximum tolerance policy – that can’t be, we have to have a quorum. We have somewhat been lax in the past,” Belmonte told reporters.

“I’ve been texting the members from each of the component parties of the majority, of the coalition. I anticipate something better,” he said.

Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza welcomed the efforts of Belmonte to ensure quorum.

“We should begin the session as provided for by the rules which is four in the afternoon. A roll call must be called after the prayer,” Atienza said.

Atienza earlier pressed for sanctions against his colleagues who are notorious for skipping plenary sessions, including publication of their names and withholding their salaries.

He also asked the House leadership to padlock the doors of the session hall as some lawmakers are wont to leave shortly after having their attendance recorded.