(NI ABBY MENDOZA)

RECORD high ang naging attendance ng mga mambabatas sa House of Representatives simula July 22 hanggang Setyembre 10.

Ayon kay House Deputy Speaker Neptali Gonzales ang 247 attendance sa loob ng 18 session days ay maituturing na historic at testimonya ito ng magadang pamumuno sa Kamara sa ilalim ng leadership ni House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

“I have been a member of several Congresses, and I am truly elated by the record attendance of House Members of the 18th Congress led by Speaker Cayetano. The high attendance of our colleagues reflects their discipline, hard work, deep passion and great interest to serve the people and enact priority laws that will give them a safe and comfortable life,” pahayag ni Gonzales.

Sinabi pa ni Gonzales na maging pagkatapos ng holiday ay mas marami pa ring mambabatas ang pumipili na magreport sa Kamara, gaya umano noong Agosto 13 ay may 266 mambabatas ang present at 259 naman noong Agosto 27.

Dahil umano sa palagiang may quorum sa Kamara ay mas madaling naipapasa ang mga panukala, pangunahin na rito ang mabilis na pagsasagawa ng budget briefings.

“With the consistent presence of an overwhelming majority of Representatives, the House effectively held the budget briefings for the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2020, at the level of the Committee on Appropriations, allowing simultaneous hearings to be held at a single time, and the passage of 3 eagerly awaited priority measures on third and final reading. The House is on its way to beat its self-imposed deadline for the approval of the GAB before Congress goes on recess on October 4,”dagdag pa ni Gonzales.

Aminado si Gonzales na ang epektibong pamamalakad ni Cayetano ang isa sa dahilan ng maayos na trabaho ngayon sa Kamara.

“Speaker Cayetano is a working Speaker, administratively and legislatively. He is very hands on. He makes sure that all committees, especially the important and big ones, are handled by qualified House Members. He can’t be influenced by a recommendation simply because of party entitlement,” pagtatapos pa ni Gonzales.