The House of Representatives on Wednesday, June 2 formally closed the second regular session of the 18th Congress with its members fully confident that they have provided the country the legislative measures that would hasten economic recovery from the devastation of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Speaker Lord Allan Velasco expressed optimism that the reforms measures enacted by the 18th Congress have “significantly contributed to securing our people’s health and welfare and to the hastening of our nation’s economic recovery.” “With our people’s interest foremost in mind, this House has not let the prevailing health crisis distract from the work that we have needed to do,” Velasco said.
Velasco’s leadership has won him a commendation from all House members who noted his “remarkable and effective leadership” of his term in the second regular session.
House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Minority Leader and Abang Lingkod Rep. Stephen Joseph “Caraps” Paduano authored House Resolution 1838 that listed the numerous accomplishments of the Lower Chamber under Velasco’s leadership.
Romualdez and Paduano cited Velasco for “his competent, constructive, and decisive leadership” of the Lower House.
Velasco, the House officials said, demonstrated “calm and quiet work ethics” that resulted in the completion of many legislative achievements of the chamber.
HR 1838 noted that through Velasco’s “competent leadership and tranquil guidance’” priority measures such as Republic Act No. 11519 entitled “An Act Extending the Availability of Appropriations” of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act; RA 11525 or the COVID 19 Vaccination Program of 2021 and the Corporate Recovery and Tax INcentives for Enterprises ACt or CREATE”.
“Upon his assumption as speaker of the House of Representatives in October, 2020, Speaker Velasco unified the House and immediately acted on the approval of House Bill 7727, which was later signed into law as Republic ACt No. 11518, otherwise known as the General Appropriations ACt Volume 1-A Fiscal Yera 2021,” Romualdez said in his sponsorship speech for HR 1838.
Meanwhile, Velasco was elected as caretaker of the Second District of Antipolo City following the death of Rep. Resureccion M. Acop.
Acop succumbed to complications triggered by COVID-19 infection. She was the third lawmaker to die from the dreaded disease, the two others were Reps. Ma. Bernardita “Ditas” Ramos (2nd District, Sorsogon) and Francisco G. Datol Jr. (Senior Citizens Partylist).