THE House of Representatives adjourned sine die Monday night, June 4, proud of its record of a total of 880 measures passed in the three regular sessions of the 17th Congress, 250 of which were approved in the final session led by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Probably the most historic of these laws was the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Republic Act 11054. In the words of President Duterte, it was needed to correct a “historic injustice” to the Moro people of Mindanao and on the third year of his term, the House responded with its approval of the Bangsamoro law.
Speaker Arroyo cited several other laws approved by the House in its third and final session. Among these were the Secondary School Career Guidance Counseling Act, the First-time Jobseekers Act, the Universal Health Care Program, the National ID System, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, Telecommunicating as an Alternative Work Arrangement for Employees, Strengthening the Policy on HIV-AIDS, the Integrated Cancer Law, Providing for the Special Protection of Children in Situations of Armed Conflict, Amending the Central Bank Act, Institutionalizing Energy Efficiency and Conservation, and the Security of Work Tenure bill.
In her farewell speech on the final day of Congress last Monday, Arroyo stressed that her concern as speaker was to support President Duterte’s legacy to the nation. The administration, she said, planted many good seeds in executive decisions, legislative proposals, foreign engagements, and bold reforms. She called on all to help so that these seeds will come to fruition in the remainder of the President’s term.
On the last day of its third and final session, the House approved a resolution citing Speaker Arroyo for leading the chamber in approving all the priority measures President Duterte had listed in his 2018 State of the Nation Address. It was under her speakership, the resolution said, that the House, with its membership of so many varied persuasions, succeeded in forging a harmonious working relationship with the Senate and the Executive Department.
The incoming members of the House are now preparing for the opening session on July 22, with intensive competition for the position of speaker. As she has already served three terms, the maximum allowed in the House, the Pampanga congresswoman will not be part of the new Congress.
Speaker Arroyo set a record of leadership and accomplishment that we hope will be upheld and carried on by the incoming leaders of the House of Representatives in the 18th Congress of the Philippines.
