Congress Watch

In a regular press briefing, Deputy Minority Leader for Communications and ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo, House Assistant Majority Leaders Mikaela Angela Suansing of Nueva Ecija and Raul Angelo Bongalon of Ako Bicol party-list, and House Committee on Labor and Employment Fidel Nograles of Rizal all hailed the Ombudsman’s suspension order, including on NFA Administrator Roderico Bioco.

Speaker Martin Romualdez on Tuesday reaffirmed the full support of the House of Representatives to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s initiative for the continuous enhancement of the Philippine Coast Guard's (PCG) capabilities, as well as the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), amid continuing tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

In a press briefing, Deputy Speaker and Quezon 2nd District Rep. David Suarez and Representatives Geraldine Roman (Bataan, 1st District), Jeffrey Khonghun (Zambales, 1st District), and Franciso Paolo Ortega (La Union, 1st District) said they fully support Speaker Martin Romualdez’s efforts to develop more permanent structures in the Philippines-occupied island groups to help patrols in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In accordance with Section 15 (h), Rule IV of the House rules, House Speaker Martin Romualdez designated the following members to preside over the session successively: Linabelle Ruth Villarica (4th District, Bulacan), Stella Luz Quimbo (2nd District, Marikina City), Maria Rachel Arenas (3rd District, Pangasinan), Anna Marie Suarez (Alona Partylist), Laarni Lavin Roque (4th District, Bukidnon), Josephine Veronique Noel (Malabon City), Mary Mitzi Uy (2nd District, Caloocan City), Marlyn Agabas (6th District, Pangasinan), Glona Labadlabad (2nd District, Zamboanga del Norte), and Geraldine Roman (1st District, Bataan).

This was the stance of House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin during the deliberations of the House Committee of the Whole on Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7, which proposes amendments to certain economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution by inserting the phrase "unless otherwise provided by law."

Mainit ngayon ang ulo ni House Ways and Means Chair Joey Sarte Salceda sa Singapore matapos lumutang ang diumano ay “exclusivity deal” nito sa production company ng paparating na concert ni Taylor Swift sa nasabing bansa.

During the hearing on Wednesday, the House Committee on Health, chaired by Batanes Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr., approved House Bill 9867, otherwise known as the proposed Pharmaceutical Innovation Act.

“Ang sabi (They are saying that), if you give the legislative power to Congress to change the proportion of ownership as provided for by the Constitution, masa-subject daw kami sa mga magla-lobby. Sa akin, pananakot lang ‘yan (we will be subjected to lobbyists). For me, that’s just scare tactics),” House Deputy Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II said in a press briefing.

Nearly 150,000 residents received over PHP1.2 billion in cash aid and other assistance from at least 55 government agencies during the two-day caravan that ended Monday.

As the Committee of the Whole started its deliberations on Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7, Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday assured that Congress is only touching on the constitution’s economic provisions that must be amended to adapt with the changing times.