Training academy for lawmakers welcomed
Sunday, September 5, 2010
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SEVERAL congressmen welcome the proposal of establishing a legislative academy where new lawmakers in the House of Representatives and the Senate will be trained.
Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II (lone district, Mandaluyong City) and Representative Amado Bagatsing (fifth district, Manila) authored House Bill Nos. 108 and 227, respectively, pushing for the creation of Philippine Legislative Academy.
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Representative Rachel Del Mar (north district, Cebu City), a first-term lawmaker, said establishing the academy would be a "great idea" if the veteran members in Congress would be the educators.
"I would love to be mentored by experienced and veteran members of the House," she told Sun.Star in a text message.
Del Mar, son of former Deputy Speaker Raul, took a crash course at UP College of Public Governance and is currently enrolled at Ateneo School of Government.
Celebrity-turned-politician Lucy Torres-Gomez (fourth district, Leyte) said the idea should be explored because it will provide a smoother transition for the first-term congressmen.
"It is a very sound idea. There is a real learning curve for neophytes and the responsibility that being a representative entails is something that should not be taken lightly," she told Sun.Star.
Representative Karlo Nograles (first district, Davao City), son of former House Speaker Prospero, meanwhile believed that the academy should not only educate the neophytes but also the sophomores and the seniors.
Competent legislators needed
As the policy-making body of the country, the legislative branch needs competent and efficient public servants, according to Gonzales.
"This can be achieved through the assistance of highly qualified personnel, providing a continuing training and educational program, and a high degree of professionalism," he added.
For his part, Bagatsing said: "The academy will also provide training for House and Senate Secretariats".
"It will arm legislators with the proper training in performing their task of nation-building through policy-making," he added. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)
