THE third regular session of the 17th Congress opened on Monday, July 23, just a few hours before President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his third State of the Nation Address (Sona).
According to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, since the first regular session in June 2016 up to present, the lower chamber has processed a total of 2,929 legislative measures. Of this, 128 are enacted as law of the land.
In his speech, Alvarez said that 128 bills were signed by the President into law in the second session of the Congress alone.
Alvarez boasted of crafting the Anti-hazing Act, Mental Health Act, the Ease of Doing Business Act, the Financial Inclusion Act, the bill that strengthens the security of tenure of employees, and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion bill, which he said increased the take home pay of employees.
Alvarez also mentioned that the Congress was able to deliver the administration's promise with the passage of the bill that sought to increase the salary of uniformed personnel and the Bangsamoro Organic Law known to the public as the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
Amid the huge number of the bills processed, Alvarez admitted there is so much work to be done in the lower chamber this year, among these, is the charter change.
"Admittedly, there is still much work to be done as we start the third regular session. And this involves dismantling one of the most extractive institutions that has robbed the rest of the Philippines- with the exception of a few cities - of its chance to fully realize its potential for growth and development. I am talking about the 1987 Constitution," he said.
The House of Representatives and the Senate will convene Monday afternoon to lead Duterte's Sona. (SunStar Philippines)