It was a “productive day” for the House of Representatives on Monday, Nov. 7, as it passed on the first day of the resumption of sessions 11 local and national bills that seek to promote the safety of private and public infrastructure, protect the environment, and boost tourism.
The lawmakers also adopted three resolutions during Monday’s session.
House Speaker and Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez lauded his colleagues for what he called a “productive day” at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.
“We immediately buckled down to work on the first day of our resumption of session. It was a productive day,” he said in a statement Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Usually, Mondays are devoted to House members’ privilege speeches on their concerns, aside from referral of numerous bills, resolutions and communications to the various committees and tackling unfinished business, the Speaker added, but Monday’s session “managed to pass bills of national and local importance, thanks to the cooperation of every House member.”
One of the most important measures approved in the third and final reading was House Bill (HB) No. 5087 by Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd district Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr.
The bill sought to include the National Building Code as a subject in engineering and architecture courses and as part of licensure examinations for these professions because Gonzales believed the measure will “safeguard life, health, property, and public welfare".
The two other proposed laws of national application are HB 5110, which seeks to “strengthen the conservation and protection of Philippine cultural heritage through cultural mapping and enhanced cultural heritage education program", and HB 3622, which would extend the life of the Philippine Aerospace Development Corp. by another 50 years.
The corporate life of the state corporation, which is under the Department of National Defense (DND), is set to expire on Sept. 5, 2023.
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The two bills’ principal authors are Pangasinan 4th district Rep. Christopher de Venecia, Marinduque lone district Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco, and Ilocos Sur 2nd district Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan.
Aside from these three national bills, the House also adopted three resolutions—one condoling with the families of those who died during the onslaught of severe tropical storm (STS) “Paeng”, the second was expressing solidarity with typhoon victims, and the other condemning the senseless killing of veteran broadcaster Percy Lapid.
These resolutions were authored by Romualdez, as well as Majority Leader and Zamboanga City 2nd district Rep. Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe, Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan, Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Ferdinand Alexander "Sandro" Marcos, and Tingog Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre.
The House also passed on the third and final reading these eight other measures of local importance:
- HB 5167, declaring the Tugonan Waterfalls in Barangay San Lorenzo, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, an ecotourism site, by Reps. Afelito Bascug of District 1 and Eddiebong Plaza of 2nd District.
- HB 5168, declaring the immediate environs of the National Shrine of our Mother of Perpetual Help, popularly known as Baclaran Church along Roxas Boulevard in Parañaque City, a heritage site and a tourist destination, by Parañaque 1st District Rep. Edwin Olivarez.
- HB 5169, declaring Mount Arayat located along the borders of the towns of Arayat and Magalang in Pampanga as an ecotourism destination, by Deputy Speaker Gonzales.
- A House bill declaring the Luzon Datum in Barangay Hinanggayon in Mogpog, Marinduque as a tourist spot, by Rep. Velasco.
- HB 5171, declaring the Cebu Safari and Adventure Park in Barangay Corte, Carmen, Cebu, a tourism destination, by Cebu 5th District Rep. Vincent Franco Frasco.
- HB 5172, distinguishing the Dao tree located within the secondary forest in E. Pelaez Ranch in Bayombong, Barangay Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City, as the Cagayan de Oro Heritage Tree and declaring it as a tourist attraction, by Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.
- HB 5173, declaring the Guinsaugon Eco-adventure Park in Barangay Ginsaugon, St. Bernard, Southern Leyte, a tourism designation, by Southern Leyte 2nd District Rep. Christopherson Yap.
- HB 5174, declaring the Passig islet in Barangay Bato, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, as an ecotourism site, by Davao del Sur Lone District Rep. Tracy Cagas.
The 11 bills passed on Monday night will be sent to the Senate for its consideration.