In just 25 session days since Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo took over, the House of Representives tackled 778 measures, or an average of 31 a day.
This means that in only 25 session days, Arroyo was able to accomplish 21 percent of the total 3,707 measures or output of the 17th Congress that opened on July 25, 2016.
Most of the measures tackled are on the legislative agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte as Arroyo made true her word she would endeavor to push the measures backed by Duterte.
Since she took over the House leadership, Arroyo attended committee hearings and plenary sessions to ensure that vital socio-economic measures were deliberated upon and approved on schedule.
During the plenary budget deliberations on Oct. 1, the Speaker, along with members of the House, stayed overnight until session was adjourned at 6 o’ clock in the morning the next day.
Then at 9 o’ clock in the morning of that day, she attended the hearing of the Committee on Ways and Means chaired by Rep. Estrellita Suansing of Nueva Ecija which tackled the fiscal regime for the Mining Industry bill.
Of the 778 processed measures during the Third Regular Session, 32 were enacted into law, eight of which were of national significance and 24 of local significance.
Four days after the opening of the Third Regular Session, the much-awaited Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was signed into law by President Duterte as Republic Act 11054. That law was based on House Bill 6475.
Also among those signed by the President was Republic Act 11055, or the Philippine Identification System Act based on HB 6221, which establishes a single national identification system to promote the seamless delivery of government services, and increase transparency while reducing corruption in the delivery of social services.
Meanwhile, 41 more measures are awaiting the President’s signature to become laws.
Apart from these landmark measures, the House ratified 10 bicameral reports, nine of which are of national importance and one of local significance.
Also during Arroyo’s term, the House approved House Joint Resolution 26, which extends until Dec. 31, 2019 the period of availability of funds intended for victims of human-rights violations during the imposition of martial law by then President Ferdinand Marcos.
Meanwhile, the House approved on second reading 16 bills, all of national significance and adopted 24 resolutions – 17 regular resolutions, four concurrent resolutions, two resolutions on inquiries in aid of legislation and one resolution of the Committee of the Whole.