The House of Representatives has passed a grand total of 210 bills of national and local significance in 97 session days held in the First Regular Session of the 17th Congress, records show.
Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said the Lower House accomplished more than enough during the first regular session as the said figure is equivalent to an average of two bills approved per day by legislators.
Including bills approved on second reading and resolutions adopted, the House approved a total of 290 measures in its first year.
Alvarez said factoring in the measures under calendar of business, those consolidated or substituted, as well as referral of resolutions on inquiries, the House processed a total of 1,247 measures during 97 session days; or an equivalent to 13 measures processed per day.
Under Alvarez, committee hearings at the Lower House are now being conducted until Thursdays, and even on Fridays and Saturdays, whether in the House or in other venues, including the provinces.
With Alvarez also actively participating in many committee hearings, members were encouraged to attend the proceedings, too.
Traditionally, the House conducts committee hearings on Mondays to Wednesdays, so lawmakers are free from Thursday until the entire weekend to go back to their respective districts.
And to ensure there is quorum during plenary sessions, Alvarez adopted a new policy on requests of congressmen for travel authorities: He encouraged them to reschedule their trips on non-session days.
But Alvarez said he allows official trips of lawmakers for Thursday up to Sunday, provided they would go back to attend the plenary session the next Monday.
Records show that since Nov. 9, 2016, he has issued travel authorities which conform to his requirements.
The results speak for themselves: Quorum was declared in all 97 session days of the House of Representatives for the First Regular Session.
The total of 210 measures the House approved during this period can be broken down as follows: 194- approved on third and final reading, 6 ratified bicameral conference committee report, 1 adopted Senate version, 4 concurred with Senate amendments.
In addition, the House accomplished the following: 13 bills approved on second reading and 67 resolutions adopted.
Including bills approved on second reading and resolutions adopted, the House has approved a total of 290 measures in its first year under the leadership of Alvarez.
