THE House of Representatives has authorized all standing and special committees to conduct hearings even during the five-week Lenten break as Speaker Martin Romualdez underscored the importance of maintaining momentum in the legislative process.
“The House remains steadfast in its commitment to serve the Filipino people. Allowing committee hearings during the break demonstrates our dedication to fulfilling our duties as legislators and addressing the needs of our constituents,” the Speaker said.
The House allowed the holding of committee hearings during the break on the motion of Isabela Rep. Faustino Dy, a deputy majority leader, who called for the continuation of committee proceedings during the March 21 to April 28 summer break.
In his adjournment speech, the Speaker highlighted the House’s notable achievements, including its impressive 100-percent accomplishment in approving SONA and LEDAC priority measures ahead of deadline.
Romualdez also stressed the House’s crucial role in exercising its oversight function through inquiries in aid of legislation, describing them as “pivotal in safeguarding the integrity of government institutions and the welfare of our people.”
“These (congressional) inquiries are the bedrock of accountability and transparency within our government,” said the House leader, who is a first cousin of President Marcos Jr.
The Speaker cited a joint inquiry conducted by the Committee on Ways and Means, Committee on Senior Citizens, and the Special Committee on Persons with Disabilities regarding gaps in the implementation of laws and policies providing discounts, incentives, and tax exemptions for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Among other recommendations, the three committees endorsed the harmonization of PWDs and senior citizen benefits, discount eligibility during promotional sales, and senior citizen and PWD programs and projects using the national tax allotment.
He also cited the efforts of the committee on health to urge PhilHealth to provide more benefits to Filipinos under the Universal Health Care Act, on top of the construction of the Philippine Cancer Center, an modern facility which Romualdez said is “designed to serve as a place of healing and optimism.”
The Speaker also cited as a “successful” example of a House inquiry the request by the Committee on Transportation to extend the deadline for jeepney consolidation, which expired on December 31, 2023, until concrete plans to address the program’s major issues are formulated.
