The House of Representatives is set to deliberate on 2,877 measures filed by various lawmakers during the plenary sessions held from July 25 to 27 and Aug. 1 to 3, the office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez reported on Sunday, Aug. 7.
According to Romualdez’s office, these bills have been referred to various committees, which will tackle them accordingly.
Of the 2,877 measures, 2,744 were House Bills, 119 were House Resolutions, seven were House Joint Resolutions, five were House Concurrent Resolutions, and two were Resolution of Both Houses.
Romualdez, who represents Leyte's first district, said in a statement that the 19th Congress is expected to buckle down to work since lawmakers already know their roles after nearly all House committees have been appointed their respective chairpersons and members.
"I thank the House Deputy Speakers for helping hold the fort at the plenary, as well as Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe, senior Deputy Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, and the members of the Committee on Rules for assisting in the process of forming the House panels," the House Speaker, also the president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party, added.
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The statement said that of the 64 standing committees in the House of Representatives, 50 have been designated with their respective chairpersons. All 64 of the panels have been given members.
Of the special committees, 10 of them now have their respective chairpersons. Member-lawmakers have already been designated to all but one of these committees.
The House committees can now begin hearings on House Bills filed and other measures. This is the first step in the legislative process.
In the coming weeks, the Committee on Appropriations, the panel that scrutinizes the proposed national budget, will be the busiest of the chambers.
The House of Representatives is expected to submit to Malacañang the National Expenditure Program (NEP), the precursor of the budget, on the third week of August.
Romualdez assured that this will be tackled immediately.
"Rest assured that the House will act immediately on the budget," he said.