TWENTY-FOUR neophyte and returning congressmen have completed their Executive Course on Legislation (ECL) which is meant to prepare them for their role as legislators of the 19th Congress.
The ECL for new members of the 19th Congress, which was organized by the House of Representatives Office of the Secretary General in partnership with the Center for Policy and Executive Development (CPED) of the UP-National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG), ended early Wednesday evening.
It covered topics such as public policy, legislative process, budget process, citizen and media engagement, the works of the legislative committees and parliamentary rules and procedures, among others.
The 24 lawmakers compose only the first batch of neophyte and returning congressmen who will attend the legislation crash course.
At least 150 of the more than 310 members of the next Congress are neophytes.
Part of the orientation program is the staging of mock committee meeting and plenary session to give the participants an idea on what takes place during these legislative proceedings.
The mock session was immediately followed by the awarding of certificates by House Secretary General Mark Llandro Mendoza and UP-NCPAG Dean Dan Saguil.
The Office of the Secretary General said the three-day training program, which began last Monday, was held “so that they can be acquainted with the ins and outs of the House of Representatives.”
In his opening remarks last Monday, Mendoza assured the incoming lawmakers that the Secretariat, as well as the UP-NCPAG, would always be willing and ready to assist them as they fulfill their duties in Congress.
For his part, Saguil highlighted the importance of the legislative branch and its collaboration with other branches of government, as well as with the private sector, to achieve national development.
CPED Director Prof. Simeon Ilago discussed the course overview, which consists of 13 parts, including mock committee hearings and a mock plenary session.
