InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines -- Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said he plans to meet with leaders of the Senate to discuss what measures can still be passed in the last three weeks of session of the 15th Congress.
Belmonte said the meeting, tentatively scheduled a week before session resumes on January 21, is important because this is when the bills needing action will be laid down.
Belmonte said the House has several measures that have been passed on third and final reading and transmitted to the Senate.
A number of key bills are also up for plenary debates and need counterpart action
from the Senate.
Belmonte said among the key measures are the Freedom of Information bill and the Anti-Trust bill, which are both on the House floor for debates.
“We will meet with the leadership of the Senate and discuss what can be done … otherwise, what’s the use of passing these bills?” he said.
From January 21, Congress will only have nine session days before adjourning again on February 8 to make way for the campaign period for the May elections.
From July 26, 2010 to December 19, 2012, the House has processed a total of 4,038 measures, including 207 that have been enacted into law and 736 approved on third reading.
A total of six bills are also awaiting action by the bicameral conference committee.
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