THE House of Representatives will pass more productive pieces of legislation in 2017, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said on Saturday.
In his New Year message, Alvarez said Congress was poised to pass the proposed shift to federalism in the coming years—among other measures deemed controversial and yet considered by President Rodrigo Duterte’s allies beneficial to the Filipino people.
“As we enter 2017, let us forge a strong unity behind the reform agenda of the Duterte administration. Let us all work together to put an end to mass poverty strengthen our democratic institutions, and move our country forward,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez appealed to critics of the Duterte administrarion’s proposal to amend the constitution to effect federalism to keep an open eye on the proposal.
“Let us take the first of the many giant steps we as one nation must undertake to effect a paradigm shift by changing our form of government from presidential to federal.
“Let’s all open our eyes that it is only through federalism that we can break the barriers of a fatally flawed Manila-centrist government to one that grants political and economic autonomy to all of our country’s regions,” Alvarez said.
He also boasted the major accomplishments of the Lower House in the first six months of the new administration under President Rodrigo Duterte.
“For us in the House of Representatives, the first six months of the 17th Congress have been very productive. We have deliberated upon and passed meaningful legislation aimed at enhancing economic growth, social progress and political stability over the long term,” Alvarez said, referring to bills on death penalty, lowering the age of criminal liability among children, same-sex union, and the proposed federal form of government.
Duterte said: “I am proud to say the House of Representatives worked really hard in the past six months to pass laws consistent with the comprehensive reform program of the Duterte administration.
“But we cannot be complacent. Much work remains to be done, and we commit to work even harder in the months ahead so that our nation can attain peace and prosperity that we all hope for,.”
“We Filipinos have much to be thankful for in 2016. We conducted free and fair elections in May and elected Rodrigo Duterte as President for the next six years,” the Speaker added.
In totality, Alvarez commended the Duterte government for its effective war on drugs, along with its other policies aimed at uplifting the lives of the Filipino people.
“After just six months in office, the Duterte administration has made significant gains not only in the war on illegal drugs and in fighting crime and corruption, but also in laying the ground for sustained socio-economic advance, lasting peace and political reforms,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez rallied behind the Filipino people and both the administration allies and political opposition to support the President’s agenda.
“As we enter 2017, let us forge a strong unity behind the reform agenda of the Duterte administration. Let us all work together to put an end to mass poverty strengthen our democratic institutions, and move our country forward,” Alvarez said.