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A. PROFILE

FELICIANO "Sonny" BELMONTE, JR. Speaker of the House of Representatives of the (2001, 2010-Present) Representative of the 4th District of (1992-2001, 2010-Present) Mayor of Quezon City (2001-2010)

Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. is the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In May 2010, he was re-elected Congressman, representing the Fourth District of Quezon City, under the Liberal Party.

From June 2001 to June 2010, Belmonte was Mayor of Quezon City, during which time he was selected as the Most Outstanding Mayor of the Philippines by the Local Government Leadership Awards.

A Three-term Congressman

1992 marked Belmonte's first stint as congressman. Before he became mayor, Belmonte was elected representative of the 4th Congressional District of Quezon City, and held the position for three (3) consecutive terms. Belmonte was Speaker of the

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House of Representatives in 2001, and also served as House Minority Leader. In his first two terms, he was the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations.

During his term as Congressman, he authored and co-authored several major bills, among them:

 The General Appropriations Act,  The Act Providing for a Dual System of Education,  The Act Creating the Metropolitan Development Authority, and  The Salary Standardization Law.

Although largely concerned with budget and financial matters, Belmonte never forgot the low-salaried employees, and was instrumental in the passage of the Second Salary Standardization Law, which corrected the gross inequities of SSL 1. He also pushed for the continued implementation of the Personal Economic Relief Alliance (PERA) for low- salaried government personnel.

A CEO Successful at Financial Turnarounds

His reputation for successfully turning around financial struggling government corporations into viable and highly profitable enterprises was highlighted in the period from 1986 to 2001, when Philippine President appointed him President and General Manager of the Government Service and Insurance System (GSIS)and the Manila Hotel, and he Chairman of the National Reinsurance Corporation of the Philippines.

He also represented the government as Member of the Board of Directors of the San Miguel Corporation (SMC), and the Philippine Long Distance and Telecommunications Company (PLDT). More importantly, he assumed the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Philippine Airlines, which was then wholly owned by the Philippine government. All these were among the Top 10 corporations in the country.

A Three-term Mayor of Quezon City

As Mayor of Quezon City, his nine years of prudent fiscal management, aggressive tax management strategies, as well as increasing efficiency and growing discipline in the management, and use of City resources has made Quezon City the most competitive city of , and second in the Philippines today. These are rankings made by businessmen in the Philippines in studies of the Asian Institute of Management, in cooperation with international agencies.

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Quezon City was cited for the dynamism of its local economy, the quality of life of its residents, and the responsiveness of the local government in addressing business needs, among others.

In 2007, Quezon City was ranked No. 7 Asian City of the Future, based on a survey commissioned by the London Financial Times through a consultancy based in Singapore.

In a 2008 Tholons special report on global services, Quezon City ranked as the number 21 emerging global outsourcing city, the highest among all nine new entrants.

Belmonte has guided Quezon City to pioneer in many areas:

 First to computerize revenue collection and assessment function.  First to grant to barangays (community-level local government unit), full-fiscal control over their share of real property tax collections.  First LGU to develop an extensive and continuous training curriculum for barangay leaders.  First to institutionalize City-wide citizen participation in governance thru the City Development Council.  First Urban Center to implement the Solid Waste Management Act.  First to use Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) as biogas-reduction strategy, and revenue generation mechanism from waste.  First to operate the Biogas Emission Reduction Project as the first Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project in solid waster management in the Philippines, and in Southeast Asia.  First LGU to manage an advanced computer training center.  First to enact a Gender and Development Code for the protection of women and children.

Recent Awards and Citations

Belmonte's governance of Quezon City has been recognized through the following prominent awards:

 2008 Galing Pook Award for the Dumpsite Transformation Project (Galing Pook Foundation)  2005 CEO Excel Award in Communications Leadership for Government  2005 Galing Pook Award for Outstanding Government Program, Molave Youth Home (Galing Pook Foundation)  2003 Galing Pook Award for Effective Fiscal Management (Galing Pook Foundation)  "Most business-friendly city" awardee for 2003, 2004, and Hall of Famer in 2005 (Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry  2003 Livable Community Award (Metrobank Foundation)

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 2003 Kabalikat sa Pabahay Award for the Local Government Unit with the Most Number of Community Mortgage Programs (Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council)

He has also received the following personal recognition:

 2003 Most Outstanding City Mayor (Local Government Leadership Awards)  Huwarang Pilipino Awardee for Local Governance (Huwarang Pilipino Foundation)  CEO Excel Awards for Communications Excellence in the Government Sector, 2006  Outstanding Filipino in Government Service of the Philippine Jaycees, and Insular Life Philippines, 2002  Outstanding Congressman of the 9th, 10th, and 11th Congress  Gintong Ama Awardee 1993  Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club of Manila  Model Filipino Awardee of the World Family Institute, 1994  Outstanding Alumni, Lyceum of the Philippines  Benedictine Centennial Awardee, San Beda College  Before joining government, he practiced law and engaged in civic activities.

At the age of 16, he started working as a reporter for a national newspaper.

In 1976, he was World President of Jaycess (JCI) International. He was also a three- time delegate of the Philippines to the International Labor Organization.

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B. SIGNIFICANT SPEECHES

I. Acceptance Speech Upon re-election as Speaker (26 July 2010)

Fellow Members of the House, friends and partners in governance, esteemed guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Eighteen years ago today, I took my oath for the first time as a Member of the House of Representatives. On my third term, in 2001, I was honored with the privilege of serving this House as its 18th Speaker.

Through the next 9 years, from 2001 to June 2010, the people of Quezon City would entrust to me, for 3 consecutive terms, the rein of their City government. Many of those who worked hard with me in transforming Quezon City are here now in the audience, still giving me moral support.

Last May, the constituents of the 4th District of Quezon City, gave me the privilege to represent them anew in Congress.

My colleagues, today, you have given me back a rare honor. Through your trust and confidence, I stand here once again as the Speaker of the House of the People. Thank you for your overwhelming support. Be assured that I will work hard to earn this confidence. I am confident that you will help me succeed since you have as much stake as I have in this success.

It is truly heart-warming and very humbling, that across the political spectrum, transcending political boundaries, new and old friends, even former political adversaries, chose to entrust me the leadership of this Chamber for the next three years.

More so, since this 15th Congress opens at a time of no ordinary political transition. Last May, the people of the Philippines did not only cast their votes for their chosen candidates. The overwhelming majority used their electoral power to usher in a change in governance that is much more responsive to the public good.

The Filipino people have set very high expectations for all branches of government. Our President, Benigno Aquino III, is clearly setting the standards for exemplary public service. Congress should not set for itself, a benchmark of service to the Filipino people that is anything less.

While party affiliations may have put us at odds during the political campaign, while our constituencies may be different, we know that all are tied together by the common need of the Filipino people for a life that is free yet secure, economically vibrant, environmentally healthy, peaceful and socially accepting. Our business is to

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Even before President Aquino took his oath of office last June 30, a pervasive mood of hopeful change greeted his election. Today, that hope has evolved into widespread public confidence that is visibly seen and felt - in the who have renewed their faith in government, in local and foreign businessmen who have become aggressive in their investment plans, and in the emerging resurgence of the Philippines in the eyes of the global community.

We must see to it that the House of Representatives contributes to this remarkable crest of change, and works further to maximize the advantages we are beginning to gain.

Our mandate is to make sure that our legislative agenda not only fully supports our country's resurgence, but further ignites it. Remember, decades ago, the Philippines was among the fastest growing countries of Asia, neck and neck with its leading economies. Pwede ba nating ambisyonin muli ito?

We have so many important challenges and tasks ahead of us - liberating millions of our people from the shackles of poverty, ensuring our global competitiveness, peace in Mindanao, and so forth.

Let us keep in mind that government efficiency, economic well-being, and the attainment of public good are directly correlated to each other in the perception of the public.

My colleagues, the honor you have conferred on me, as your Speaker, comes with it my commitment to strengthen the House of Representatives, resolute as a co- equal branch of our government, co-equal in power and independent - certainly, but also accountable. We are accountable to each and every Filipino that we serve. We are accountable, according to the laws of the land. We are accountable, according to the universal values of honesty and integrity.

When I was Mayor of Quezon City, my first order of business was putting our house in order. I believe that this internally driven review and improvement of the way things are run is a good formula to follow in this house of ours. It will create a good foundation for a Philippine Congress that is an advocate of reforms and practitioner of good governance, and credible, because it began to champion the change within itself, even as it looked beyond.

Let us be one in promoting a strong work ethic among ourselves including the House Secretariat. Let us show our commitment through consistent attendance to our duties in the committees, in plenary, as well as to our constituencies.

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In all my years in public service, I have always observed prudence and judiciousness in the use and allocation of funds. During these times when the entire national government must function within tight financial restraints, it would be good practice to opt for ways to optimize resources, to get maximum public value for every peso budgeted and spent. We should continuously aim to promote higher levels of efficiency.

Let us be judicious and prudent in crafting the national budget. We should relate agency performance and results obtained in promoting the welfare of the people to their share of public funds. Let us use our power of the purse to prod government agencies to meet their performance targets. Let us clearly delineate the duties and responsibilities of government officials to prevent abuses and to minimize opportunities for graft and corruption. The use of PDAF should engender no suspicion, but general agreement that they are used widely to give each district a socio economic lift, through greater transparency and focus on our projects.

Before the end of August, we shall define the legislative agenda for the 15th Congress. We shall be setting the policy blueprint for national growth and social reform for the next three years. We hope to harmonize our priorities, with those of the Senate and the Executive - the program of P.Noy, so that the passage of priority measures can be timely, efficient and responsive.

Ours will be a progressive and forward-looking House, able to overcome self- interest to raise the Filipinos and the Philippines to a proud stature in the global ranking of nations.

The 15th Congress shall be a strong, independent and accountable arm of government - because all of us are capable and productive partners in making this happen.

Through our election and oath of office, we have made a joint commitment to give our people a much better life. Let us bravely embrace this challenge. What we do or fail to do, will matter.

Our country's future is at stake.

I am convinced that we, the Members of the 15th Congress, shall be the most ardent movers of the Philippines' social and economic transformation. All of you and I shall work collaboratively to make this happen, with God's help.

May I now extend my hand to all of you, to those who supported me, to those who believed in me, my sincere and heart-felt gratitude. To my worthy opponent and dear friend, the gentleman from Albay, Hon. Edcel Lagman, and those who supported him, I extend my hand of cooperation. Let us work together for this House is our House.

Let us make it a true House of and for the benefit of all the people of the Philippines.

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Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat! Mabuhay kayo. Thank you.

II. Speech during the Philippine Business Conference (9 October 2012)

[Delivered during the 38th Philippine Business Conference, 9 October 2012]

[My good friend] Mike (Miguel) Varela, President of PCCI Tony [Antonio] Lopa, Chair of the 38th Philippine Business Conference Fred [Alfredo] Yao, Chairman of PCCI Donald Dee, Vice Chairman of PCCI Serge [Sergio] Ortiz-Luis Jr., Honorary Chairman of PCCI Distinguished members of the PCC Board of Directors Members of the Diplomatic Corps Delegates to the 38th Philippine Business Conference

Ladies and gentlemen:

A pleasant morning to all.

First, I would like to congratulate the organizing committee headed by the conference chair Antonio Lopa and the board of directors of PCCI for putting together another successful Philippine Business Conference.

I am not a stranger to this conference. In the past, I have delivered presentations and speeches before your distinguished audience of business leaders and delegations from all over the country and other parts of the world.

Over the years, your conference served as an important venue not just to hear out your concerns and views on critical issues about business and economy. At the same time, it is also a venue to promote cooperation between business and government to address these concerns.

Your Conference Theme, "Investments and Governance, Pillars of Economic Reforms," is a timely attribution to the growing interest in the Philippine economy, as a result of the various reforms that government and business are jointly pursuing.

There is no doubt that we are taking huge steps in our drive to achieve higher and sustainable growth:

• Our economy grew by 6.1 percent in the first semester of 2012. • Our gross international reserves, as of August 2012, reached US$80.8 billion. This amount can cover about a year's worth of imports. • Our competitiveness ranking, as reported by the World Economic Forum, improved by 20 places in the last two years -- from 85th to 65th place.

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• Our country's corruption perception index also improved by 10 places, from 139 in 2010 to 129 in 2012. • We have reduced our budget deficits, and kept them within targets. • We have been given successive upgrades in our credit ratings. • And our stock market has registered record highs.

While these data speak of improving investor sentiments in the economy, a number of risks continue to prevail. They will be critical to the country's long term economic prospects.

These risks include: (1) the looming debt crisis in Europe and sluggish growth in US and Japan economies, (2) high fuel and energy costs, and (3) increased global competition.

Mitigating these risks demand improved institutional coordination between local and national government agencies, and among government, business, and civil society.

Thus I am fortunate that under my watch as Speaker of the House of Representatives, PCCI continues to play a very helpful role in policy and legislation.

One of the innovative mechanisms of our dialogue process is the regular meetings we conduct with the business community. We have had these meetings with the PCCI, various industry associations, and the Joint Foreign Chambers.

While our partnership has been fruitful for the most part, there are still significant steps-somehow bold actions-which we must cooperate on to ensure that the introduction of these reforms does not only offer short-term fixes, but also institute permanent solutions to the recurring problems of our country.

To attain much higher and more consistent rates of growth to eventually eradicate poverty, we need to bring in more and better investments.

We need investments that will bring in capital and technologies that will keep our workers productively employed. We also need a bigger market to allow us to produce more and maximize the productive use of our resources.

Together with Senate President Enrile, I advocate for the review of certain economic provisions of our Constitution that restrict foreign investments and constrain our economic progress.

I am not proposing to change the restrictive economic provisions of our Constitution overnight. What I am suggesting is for us to take the first step towards relaxing these restrictive economic provisions by allowing Congress to enact the laws defining foreign participation and nationality requirements in strategic sectors of our economy.

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We will not relinquish our sovereignty on the preservation of our God-given resources. However, by allowing foreign participation and removing nationality requirements by legislative enactments, Congress can define and propose timely policy amendments, and we can give our economy a more responsive and robust policy environment within which to flourish.

Aside from amending the restrictive economic provisions of our Constitution, we have included in the legislative agenda of the 15th Congress various measures to encourage the growth of both domestic and foreign investments.

In close collaboration with the Executive, we endeavored to promote macroeconomic stability to boost business and investor confidence. Since the start of the 15th Congress, we have managed to pass the national government budget in time for the next fiscal year. The episodes of re-enacted budget, which caused uncertainties and inefficiencies, are now things of the past.

Not only that we pass the budget on time, we have also exercised strong fiscal discipline in our deliberations on the budget. Though politically unpopular, we have reined in congressional insertions in the national government budget. We want to insure that we do not pass bloated budgets that are not within our means.

To insure fiscal discipline in all agencies and instrumentalities of the government, we enacted the GOCC Governance Act of 2011 to curb abuses, and to promote accountability and efficiency in government owned and controlled corporations.

To sustain the government's fiscal position we have passed on third reading, the rationalization of fiscal incentives, the reform of the excise tax on tobacco and alcohol, and the valuation reform act.

We have also used the national government budget to upgrade and modernize our country's infrastructure. At present, national government spending on infrastructure and other capital projects stands at P252.4 billion, higher by nearly half of the previous year's level. In the proposed national government budget for 2013, infrastructure spending is expected to grow further by 17.5 percent amounting to P296.7 billion.

To complement public spending on infrastructure, we are also pushing for the amendment of our BOT Law. It will facilitate private sector participation in the construction, operation, and maintenance of public utilities and infrastructure.

We also made conscious efforts to enhance social services and to strengthen human capital formation. I believe that an educated and skilled labor force is a major source of competitive advantage. Thus we endeavored to provide the biggest allocation of national government budget to education, health, and other social services.

In the past two years we have given social services, particularly education, the highest share of the budget to promote human capital formation and broaden access to

Drafted by DRO II Mico A. Galang, 17 July 2014 1345H Page 11 of 64 opportunities. The 2013 General Appropriations Act is not any different. We are allocating P698 billion or 34.8 percent of the national budget to social services. Education in particular will be receiving P329.4 billion or 16.4 percent of the total budget.

To enhance social protection particularly to the most vulnerable sector of our society, we are allocating P44.3 billion to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino (4Ps) to provide conditional grants to extremely poor households.

As we have always stressed, the 4Ps is not a dole-out. It is investment in human capital. Aside from assuring maternal health care, 4Ps insures that all children, especially those coming from poor families, will be healthier and more educated, and will grow up to be productive members of society.

In addition to the general appropriations act, we have enacted RA 10157 institutionalizing the Kindergarten Education into the Basic Education System, and RA 10165 strengthening and propagating foster care for abandoned and neglected children and children with special needs.

We have also approved on third reading the following bills: (1) instituting the Ladderized Education Program, (2) establishing an open high school for out of school youths and adults, and (3) implementing open learning through distance education. Also, approved on 3rd reading is a bill providing a definite targeting strategy in identifying the poor and the provision of mandatory health coverage.

Aside from measures to enhance the quality of our labor force, we have also worked to promote efficiency and reduce distortions in our labor market. We have passed a law, Republic Act 10151, rationalizing the nightwork prohibition on women workers. We have also approved on third reading, the bill expanding the prohibited acts of discrimination against women on account of gender.

To attract more investments, we also need to expand our market. We must encourage greater competition not only to improve the efficiency of our local producers and manufacturers in serving the domestic market but also, to boost their ability to compete in the larger international market.

Thus we have approved on third reading, the bill creating the Office of the Philippine Trade Representative, and the bill on the Customs Modernization and Tariffs Act. We are also close to approving on second reading, the Anti-Trust or Competition Policy, and the Pocket "Open Skies" Policy. Other measures included in our legislative agenda on this matter are the bills on strengthening anti-smuggling provisions in the tariff and customs code, the rationalization of the charters of the Philippine Ports Authority, MARINA and Civil Aeronautics Board.

We have also included in our legislative agenda certain measures to promote investments in specific sectors of our economy. In particular, we have enacted the Anti-

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Cybercrime Act and the Data Privacy Act which could contribute to the growth of e- commerce and our BPO sector. Also approved by both houses of Congress is the bill creating the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

In the House of Representatives, we have also approved on third reading the National Land Use and Management Act of the Philippines, the Sustainable Forest Management Act, the Land Management Bureau Survey of Cadastral Lots, and the Delineation of Specific Forest Limits of the Public Domain.

Let me now touch on the flagship reform area of this administration: the elimination of corruption. Corruption is a major deterrent to investments. It reduces the rate of return, and increases the risks of investments.

The United Nations estimates that more than 10 percent of the country's GNP is lost to various forms of corruption. The Philippines is the fourth most corrupt among sixteen Southeast Asian countries.

Paradoxically, this level of corruption co-exists with, and festers inspite of, the numerous institutions that have been established to fight it. There are about thirty anti- corruption laws and more than fifteen agencies established to eradicate it.

This paradox reminds us that the drive against corruption necessitates a comprehensive approach that includes enhancing law enforcement, increasing prosecutorial success, and establishing a culture of transparency in government.

Towards these ends, we enacted into law the amendments to strengthen the Anti-Money Laundering Act. We have also passed on third reading at the House of Representatives, the bills on strengthening the Witness Protection Act, and the Whistleblower's Protection Act. Also included in our legislative agenda in this area is the Freedom of Information Act.

In the same pursuit of good governance, we have introduced measures to promote a regime of peace and security. We enacted into law RA 10168 defining the crime of financing terrorism. We have approved on third reading a bill defining the maritime zones of the Philippines, a bill establishing the archipelagic sea lanes, and a bill lowering the age of criminal responsibility of minors.

To prevent human rights abuses, we have passed on third reading bills on anti enforced or involuntary disappearance, human rights victims' compensation, and internal displacement act.

In closing, government and business must continue to work together and keep the reform process moving.

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The mid-term elections are scheduled next year. Let us not be distracted by political noise. Let us focus on making our economy grow much further. Let us keep our eyes focused on our common drive towards continued growth.

Once more, we are at a crossroads where we can either shrink back to mediocrity or propel ourselves forward on a path trained towards sustained growth.

History is giving our country yet another opportunity for broad and inclusive development. Let us not waste this opportunity.

Today, let us start action on what needs to be done to make our country realize its long- held aspirations for greater prosperity.

Thank you very much to all of you.

May this Conference be a fruitful one.

III. Speech during a Meeting with the Joint Foreign Chambers (14 November 2012)

It is again a distinct privilege to address all of you in the Joint Foreign Chambers. Our meetings have done much to establish and strengthen our working relationship. Specifically, our constant dialogues over the past two years have assisted the House in approving measures considered as priority by your Chamber, namely: Amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act, Common Carrier‘s Tax, Customs Modernization and Tariffs Act, Land Use Policy, Sustainable Forest Management Act, Universal Healthcare, and Whistleblower‘s Protection Act.

Indeed, we were able to better coordinate our reform initiatives, and move more closely towards common goals and directions—including those of sustaining the present momentum of growth and realizing more inclusive growth.

As you are all well aware, there is much to be pleased about on the matter of the Philippine macroeconomy. Consider the following developments: Average GDP growth in the first semester stood at 6.1 percent, making the year‘s projected growth of 5 to 6 percent achievable.

The 2011 Debt-to-GDP ratio was at 50.9 percent, lower than that in 2010.

The Philippines‘ competitiveness rankings also continue to improve. In the World Economic Forum‘s Global Competitiveness Report, we went up by 10 places in ranking as the 65th out of 114 economies.

All three major credit rating agencies (Moody‘s, Standard & Poors, and Fitch) have upgraded the Philippines‘ credit rating to only a notch below investment grade.

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As a result, it was widely reported in the newspapers and in international surveys that business confidence in the country has been rising. According to the 2012 Grant Thornton International Business Report, businesses in the Philippines remain very optimistic about the economy over the next 12 months.

Investment firm Religare Capital Markets also regarded the Philippines as the new darling for investors, noting the strong macroeconomy and solid political situation. The group also remarked that the country is well positioned as an alternative investment site to China and Hong Kong, which continue to be hounded by corporate governance issues.

But even without the official reports, the sense of rising optimism among the business community can easily be detected. In the various business conferences and engagements I have recently attended, I can sense the growing confidence among the country‘s entrepreneurs. It is a confidence that is real and palpable, and one which I hope can be nurtured and sustained.

However, this is no time to be complacent. Much work remains to be done. To my mind, there are two major challenges that need to be addressed over the medium and long term.

The first challenge is enhancing the country‘s overall competitiveness.

While there have been significant gains in certain areas, such as macroeconomic environment and government institutions, there remain considerable weaknesses which need to be addressed, especially in the areas of infrastructure, health and primary education, and labor market efficiency. This is according to the World Economic Forum‘s Global Competitiveness Report.

Meanwhile, power supply security concerns, along with high electricity prices also continue to hinder the country‘s competitiveness. Doing business remains an issue as evidenced by the country‘s decline in the World Bank‘s Doing Business Survey for 2013.

The second challenge is creating more jobs and opportunities.

While GDP growth figures are certainly laudable, this should translate to more jobs generated. Jobs are the key to raising incomes, and evidence that growth is being properly translated.

How do we address these challenges? I believe there are five tasks we must work together to accomplish.

The first task is to sustain the robust macroeconomy.

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This entails keeping the fiscal house in order, and approving a national budget that is truly responsive to the needs and demands of the people. Indeed, we are on the right track towards our fiscal consolidation efforts as the national government managed to post a primary surplus, net of interest payments, amounting to P139.2 billion for the period of January to September 2012 while increasing disbursements by 14% for the same period.

The House, for its part, passed on Third Reading the 2013 national budget last October 15, after a series of marathon hearings. Surely you have observed that ensuring the swift passage of the budget has been a priority of the House for the past three fiscal years. Our tireless work on the budget has effectively allowed the country to start the year with a new expenditure program which is needed to upgrade vital infrastructure such as ports and airports.

The second task is to focus on attracting new investments.

This means that economic restrictions of the Constitution have to be addressed, and the overall business environment has to be made more conducive to growth. While amendments to the economic provisions of the Constitution may not come sooner, I earnestly believe that this should be given priority by the next Congress. We have to realize much higher levels of investments.

Higher investments will lead to the creation of much-needed jobs and provide consumers with wider and better choices in goods and services.

The third task is to boost trade even further.

We need to make our products more competitive, find new markets, and expand existing ones. Small and medium enterprises have to be provided with more support; they are the engines of the national economy. Further, our economy has to be more knowledge-based. The continued support of key growth-enhancing sectors, such as business process outsourcing and ICT should further be pursued, but moving up the value chain is likewise imperative.

The fourth task is to make our human capital our greatest asset.

We need to invest more in our people, provide them with better health and education, and make them stakeholders in the country‘s future. Under the social services budget of P698 billion for 2013, P329.4 billion will go to education, culture, and manpower development while P169.3 billion is set aside for social security, welfare and employment. This only shows that our prudent spending over the past years has now allowed us to invest more on developing our human capital.

The fifth task is to establish a genuine peace and order situation.

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Businessmen need to feel more secure operating in our country. This can only happen in a regime where there is greater transparency and accountability. The signing of the framework agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is therefore a welcome development. The agreement, which was signed last October 15, 2012, defines the features of the political settlement between the government and the MILF, and also defines the powers of the Bangsamoro entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. It is hoped that in 2016, the Bangsamoro political entity would have been established, which shall be reflective of the aspirations and ideals of the people of Mindanao.

I am pleased to note that the priority bills being championed by the Joint Foreign Chambers and the Philippine Business Groups, and our own legislative agenda, address these five major tasks that I have mentioned. Moreover I am proud to inform you that out of the 31 legislative proposals that we tabled for discussions in our previous meetings, we already enacted three into law, approved 16 on third reading, and another 10 on second reading.

In closing, let me extend my deepest thanks to you -- the Joint Foreign Chambers – for your support and cooperation in these last few years. Together, we were able to make meaningful discussions on legislative priorities and come to a mutual understanding of what reforms are needed and how these reforms should be instituted.

It is my fervent hope that our cooperation will extend well into the next Congress. The reform process that we have worked on together should continue, and the seeds of change we planted should be nurtured to their very end.

Even as mid-term elections approach, let our focus and resolve to effect meaningful reforms not waver. As I emphasized earlier, what the country needs is to become even more competitive and to create more jobs. Growth for the sake of growth will never be enough.

Again, to my colleagues and fellow legislators, and to the members of the Joint Foreign Chambers and Philippine Business Groups, thank you all for your support.

IV. Remarks during the Closing of the 15th Congress (6 july 2013)

[Delivered during the closing of the Third Regular Session of the 15th Congress, 6 June 2013]

Three years back, on July 2010, we convened the 15th congress of the House of Representatives with one clear mission: to redeem the faith of our people in their legislature, and in their representatives to this House of the People, so they may

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Hon. Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.At this hour, as we bring the 15th Congress to a close, with one voice, we can say to our people - mission accomplished!

We end this Congress confident in the truth that we have, by our unity in purpose, sheer hard work and dedication to duty, won back a good measure of our people's faith in our ability to give them a House they can trust, in a government that unconditionally honors their trust.

We put in place, through responsive legislation, the key policy pillars for good governance to achieve inclusive economic growth, people-centered political and administrative reform, and social equity anchored on the imperative of securing the welfare of the poorest of the poor.

In recognition of our labors, our people gave this House - through the three regular sessions of the 15th Congress - the highest ever public approval ratings since the restoration of the Philippine legislature in 1987.

This achievement, my fellow representatives, is a badge of honor for every member of the 15th Congress.

My dear colleagues, good governance by competent and upright leaders is the key to economic growth, poverty reduction and social peace. Good governance sets and implements right policies effectively, combats corruption, curbs abuse of power, and makes government and its officials accountable.

It begins and ends with our commitment to make our government work better every day we serve. In this Congress, we were fortunate to work with an administration that pursued good governance as vigorously as we did.

From the doldrums, in barely three years, the country now rides the crest of renewed confidence, both here and abroad, in a government that kept its promise of ethical service to the people, and revitalized the national economy towards unprecedented levels of growth and investor confidence.

For 2012, the Philippines posted a record 6.6% economic growth rate surpassing official growth targets. The growth rate for the first quarter of 2013 is even more impressive at 7.8%.

For the first time, the country received investment grade ratings from 3 major credit rating agencies, namely: Fitch Ratings, Standard and Poor's, and Japan Credit Rating Agency.

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The country climbed 20 notches in the world economic forum competitiveness rankings from 2010 to 2012.

The Philippine stock market soared to a record high of more than 30 percent in 2012, and on May 15, 2013, the PSE main index breached the 7,400 level for the first time in its history. Foreign direct investments climbed from $1.2 billion in 2010 to $2 billion in 2012 reflecting increasing investor confidence in the economy under the Aquino administration.

The 15th Congress, my dear colleagues, was an active partner of the administration in achieving these milestones, and in creating the policy foundations that now spur the momentum for economic growth.

We passed the most number of historic and game-changing laws without fanfare or grandstanding.

Through our deliberations on even the most contentious of legislative measures - from the first ever reproductive health law and the controversial sin tax restructuring, to curbing the scandalous allowances and perks of GOCCs and granting just compensation to human rights victims, we let the chips fall where they may. Each one of us voted freely following only the dictates of individual reason and conscience.

We proved, beyond cavil, our resolve to make government and the whole bureaucracy, from the highest to the lowest, truly accountable to the people by first, impeaching an incumbent ombudsman, and immediately thereafter, impeaching and successfully prosecuting a sitting chief justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

We were steadfast in implementing our agenda for policy reform - working for the passage of laws forged through executive and legislative consensus - to accomplish three overarching goals: good governance, sustained inclusive growth and social justice.

We enacted a total of 447 laws out of 1,023 measures reported out by our committees and approved on third reading by the plenary. We passed 25 priority measures of the LEDAC of which 15 have been enacted into laws. More than 500 House measures await Senate action to this hour.

Let me cite just a few of our significant accomplishments.

For three consecutive years, we banished the evil of a "re-enacted budget" that warps the allocation and use of public resources. We passed the Appropriations Acts for 2011, 2012 and 2013 way before yearend - a feat that eluded previous Congresses. This House ensured that government programs are funded with dispatch and implemented without delay at the start of every fiscal year.

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We allocated funds for key social welfare programs among which are the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the Supplemental Feeding for Daycare Children Program, the SEA-K or Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran Program, and Social Pension Programs for Indigent Senior Citizens.

The restructuring of the excise tax on alcohol and cigarette products will generate P35 billion more in annual revenues to boost funding for the national health insurance program to achieve universal healthcare coverage for all Filipinos.

Social protection for the poor and marginalized was broadened with the landmark Kasambahay Law, the expanded foster care law for the benefit of abandoned, neglected and special children, and the juvenile justice reform law that rationalizes the criminal liability of children in conflict with the law. We also increased welfare benefits for the elderly by increasing SSS pensions.

A sound financial sector is sustained by amendments we passed to the Anti- Money Laundering Act, the Anti-terrorism Financing Act, the mended Rural Bank Act that widens access to banking services in the countrysides. An amended Insurance Code to strengthen the supervisory and regulatory functions of the Insurance Commission will soon be sent to the President for his signature.

We exempted international carriers operating in the country from income tax following the principle of reciprocity, and conducted substantive deliberations on the adoption of a partial open skies policy, an anti-trust law, and a comprehensive customs and tariff systems modernization law.

We created new regulatory frameworks with the ground breaking data privacy law, the first ever Anti-Cybercrime Act, and an Anti-Illegal Cable TV and Cable Internet Tapping Law.

To secure social peace and the rule of law, this Congress finally enacted the law granting compensation to victims of human rights violations during the martial law regime. We also created more than 260 additional trial courts nationwide, and enacted the revised AFP Modernization Act, the expanded Anti-trafficking of Persons Act, and the Involuntary Disappearance Act.

In the arena of political and electoral reforms, we passed the ARMM Elections Synchronization Act, the Mandatory Biometrics Voter Registration Act, and the act designating accessible polling places for persons with disabilities and senior citizens.

Towards a more competent and ethical bureaucracy, we passed the GOCC Governance Act, the Early Release of Retirement Benefits Act, the Act granting appropriate civil service eligibilities to Sanggunian Members nationwide, and various acts regulating the practice of selected professions.

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Industrial peace and economic productivity received a boost with the passage of laws improving the intellectual property system, rationalizing the nightwork prohibition on women workers, strengthening conciliation and mediation as modes of labor dispute settlement, and strengthening tripartism.

For the poor, education remains the most important means of escape from poverty. Thus, we enacted three landmark education reform acts - the Kindergarten Education Act, the Early Years Act, and the K to 12 Basic Education Act which, together with ladderized education, expand accessibility of educational opportunities for all Filipinos, especially the young .

My dear colleagues - I can go on enumerating what we accomplished in the 15th Congress. But, in the end, it is our performance record that will speak best for all of us.

While our accomplishments are many, much more needs to be done. Indeed, the 16th Congress will have its hands full. I am confident that as we did in the 15th Congress, through unity of purpose and disciplined work ethic as legislators, we shall, once again, overcome all challenges with flying colors.

Fond remembrances, congratulations and commendations are in order as we bring this 15th Congress to a close.

I am sad that some of our longest serving legislators deserving of recognition and our collective commendation are not with us today.

We miss the presence of outstanding and esteemed colleagues who lent color, excitement and substance to proceedings of the House:

Hon. Salvador 'Tatay' Escudero III, Basic Ed Chair, who never missed a session day despite his illness,

Hon. Pedro 'Loloy' Romualdo who was among those who made the strongest principled opposition to the RH bill,

Hon. Antonio Diaz who helmed the Inter Parliamentary Relations Committee,

Hon. Ignacio T. Arroyo, Jr. who had served as Natural Resources Chair in the past Congress,

Hon. Erico B. Aumentado who chaired our Ethics Committee and

Hon. Florencio I. Vargas, an esteemed veteran legislator of Cagayan.

Their lights may have gone out and their voices no longer heard in this chamber, but their legacy of service and statesmanship will continue to shine and inspire us.

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Two of our esteemed members are newly-elected senators of the republic - Higher Education Committee Chair, Hon. Juan Edgardo Angara, and Hon. J.V. Ejercito, Chair of the Metro Manila Development Committee.

Seven of our colleagues were elected governors of their respective provinces, while five others became mayors.

Finally, may I extend my deepest gratitude, respect and sincere appreciation to all you, my dear colleagues, for your hard work, selfless cooperation and dedication to duty. I thank you, too, for the trust you have vested in me to lead you in this Congress.

My deepest gratitude to

The six (6) Deputy Speakers - Raul Daza, Erin Tañada, Pabling Garcia, Noli Fuentebella, Boying Remulla and Beng Climaco.

The Majority Leader Boyet Gonzales and the Committee on Rules. Our two Minority Leaders for this Congress - Edcel Lagman and Danny Suarez - and their deputies

All the committee chairpersons.

The Secretary General, all deputy secretaries general, the House secretariat and all congressional staff

And to all of you - thank you for being my very able partners in these past three (3) years.

The 15th Congress achieved much because you were willing to give much more of your time, talent and intellect to the tasks of legislation. It is, and will always be, an honor to serve our people with you. My greater honor and privilege, however, is serving as your Speaker.

Our journey as servants of the republic and as representatives of the people is not done.

Together, let us face the future with the confidence that we shall, as we did in the 15th Congress, continue to serve with dignity, honor, competence and commitment to the welfare of our people and the highest interests of our nation.

Para sa bayan, tungo sa tunay na pagbabago- Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat.

Mabuhay ang 15th Congress!

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V. Acceptance Speech Upon re-election as Speaker (22 July 2013)

[Delivered upon his re-election as House Speaker during the opening of the First Regular Session of the 16h Congress on 22 July 2013]

ESTEEMED colleagues, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen -

It is a rare honor to once more be entrusted with the Speakership of this Chamber. This grave responsibility was first reposed on me briefly in 2001, and again in the 15th Congress.

Today, I am deeply humbled by your vote of confidence. I accept anew this duty, equally confident that, irrespective of our differing political affiliation, geographic or sectoral interest and persuasion, we will always stand strong and unified in our resolve not merely to consolidate the gains thus far realized, but to move towards our great future.

I pledge to honor that trust with a leadership that respects the voice of every member in all proceedings of this chamber and upholds the integrity of this assembly as a democratic institution of government.

Mula sa puso, maraming salamat sa inyong pagtitiwala.

Whether re-elected or as new members of this Chamber, we all witnessed the back-breaking burden legislators of this House bore to discard practices of the past and steer the country towards the proverbial matuwid na daan. In the past three years, it was this House which overhauled the appropriations process, and built the habit of the prompt enactment of a transparent and responsive national budget; this House which refused to shirk from the politically difficult task of impeachment and fortified the constitutional promise of accountability in government.

The ratings achieved by this House in successive public trust surveys are not only historic; they are likewise indicative of the transformation of this institution and of our efforts to place our national constituency front, back and center of our legislative agenda.

The remarkable improvements in the country's competitiveness rankings, governance indicators and corruption indices; the investment grade credit ratings achieved under President Aquino; and the economic growths posted last year and in the first quarter of this year which are unsurpassed in the region are extraordinary feats which we achieved even as the world around us grappled with a stale, if not contracting, international economy and immense political disturbances.

The greatest error we can commit today is to mistake the past three years as ends in themselves, and not merely as a preview of the greater things to come.

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Our task in the next three years must be to resist the costly temptation of resting on our laurels, to inspire greater belief in our collective capacity for greater accomplishment within our country and outside, and to marshal government resources towards making possible a more vibrant and resilient economy and people.

In close collaboration with the Senate and the Executive, we will craft a legislative agenda that will generate greater economic activity in our country.

Reducing the impediments to the ease of doing business even as we rationalize our incentives framework, and creating a more even and stable regulatory framework that will rid the private sector of its fears from funding our economic expansion, especially in such critical areas as power and energy, are essential if we are to sustain our growth and employ the jobless.

The habit of promptly enacting a national budget must be complemented by judiciousness in the use of public resources. The reprieve enjoyed by our people from additional taxes can be sustained without substantially impairing our future growth and expansion if efficiency in government spending is further strengthened and institutionalized in our appropriations act, and assiduously guarded through the oversight powers of this House.

Greater investment in public infrastructure and facilities must be encouraged, simultaneous with our concern for prudence in the use of public resources. As we pass laws that deter and close the avenues for corruption, so must we gain greater confidence in using public resources to address and anticipate the needs of our expanding economy.

We must nurture a legal ethos that mandates and extolls prudence in spending, and transparency and accountability in the use of public funds, especially in the use of Priority Development Assistance Funds or PDAF. Ambiguity must yield to specific, definite and verifiable development programs and projects for both district and party-list funded activities. A strict obedience to a much tightened guidelines in the use of public resources is the strongest guarantee of efficiency, ensuring that each peso spent generates exponential returns for our people.

For my part, my PDAF, since first serving as member of this Chamber in 1992, were spent strictly within my district in Quezon City, subject always to public scrutiny, and sometimes to criticism.

The 16th Congress coincides with the second half of President PNoy's six year term. These three years are sometimes more difficult to manage because whiffs of the next election hang in the air. This time might not be too different. Nevertheless, I call upon all of you, my colleagues, to unite behind this administration's and our reform agenda in the interest of our people so that the 16th Congress along with President Aquino's term of office, ends, not with a strike out, but with a homerun.

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Reforms in governance cannot be neglected. Government leaders must now augment our "kung walang kurap, walang mahirap" battle cry with "walang kukurap," and marshall greater support for the President's agenda towards a clean, honest, efficient and responsive public bureaucracy.

We must complete the modernization of our institutions and the processes they adopt, and rid them of wastages which equally robs our people of essential public services. Until our accomplishments in the transformation of government become convincingly irreversible, we can neither allow our present gains to be dissipated midstream nor frustrate anew the expectations of our people.

My colleagues, our beliefs and philosophies will undoubtedly require us to debate and disagree as we perform the legislative duties we will set up. But our democratic experience in the past Congress – the Congress which courageously tackled some of the most controversial and divisive measures – should remind us that our differences cannot remotely justify the obstruction of urgent and necessary legislation, but must in fact be used to enrich it.

With your help, ours will be a pro-active 16th Congress, one that refuses to squander the accomplishments of our predecessors but builds on them that we may finally bridge the realities of the present to the promise of our future.

Ours will be a visionary Congress that will anticipate our needs and steer our economy to a path of sustained, but especially, equitable and inclusive growth.

Together with you, we will be that Congress worthy of the trust reposed upon it by the constituency who elected us - the Filipino people.

Maraming salamat sa inyo at mabuhay tayong lahat. Mabuhay ang bansang Pilipinas!

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C. LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

I. 15th Congress

 HB01454 - PHILIPPINE IMMIGRATION ACT OF 2010

Main Referral: JUSTICE Committee

Status: Pending with the Committee on JUSTICE since 2010-08-02

Explanatory Note by the Speaker:

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 HB04153 - AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES IN THE PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGIC WATERS, PRESCRIBING THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF FOREIGN SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT EXERCISING THE RIGHT OF ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES PASSAGE THROUGH THE ESTABLISHED ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES AND PROVIDING FOR THE ASSOCIATED PROTECTIVE MEASURES THEREIN

Main Referral: FOREIGN AFFAIRS Committee

Status: Approved by the House on 2012-01-24, transmitted to on 2012-01-26 and received by the Senate on 2012-01-26

Explanatory Note by the Speaker:

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II. 16th Congress

 HB01134 - PHILIPPINE IMMIGRATION ACT OF 2013

Main Referral: JUSTICE

Status: Pending with the Committee on JUSTICE since 2014-03-04

Explanatory Note by the Speaker:

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D. RELEVANT NEWS ARTICLES

Romero, P. (2014, July 7). SB to SC: Show how P1.7-B judiciary fund was spent. The Philippine Star. Retrieved 8 July 2014 from http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/07/07/1343354/sb-sc-show-how- p1.7-b-judiciary-fund-was-spent

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. is urging the Supreme Court to disclose to the public how it spent the P1.775-billion Judiciary Development Fund (JDF) amid moves from his colleagues to look into the disbursement of the discretionary allocation of the judicial branch.

Belmonte, vice chairman of the ruling Liberal Party, denied the revival of the House‘s move to investigate the use of the JDF was in retaliation to an SC ruling declaring the P177-billion Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) as illegal and unconstitutional.

He said the chamber could be forced to look into the JDF should the SC not make a detailed report on how it has been using the fund for the sake of transparency.

―The Supreme Court should voluntarily disclose its receipts and expenditures, and not wait for any congressional inquiry,‖ Belmonte said.

Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., chairman of the House committee on justice, said his panel would start its inquiry into the JDF as soon as Congress resumes session on July 28.

―Actually, the timing (of the investigation) is good because we have rulings on PDAF and DAP, and no one is above the law,‖ Tupas told dzBB.

Tupas and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali in December last year pushed for a congressional scrutiny of the JDF after the SC ruled the Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel fund of lawmakers as unconstitutional.

Umali at that time warned that SC magistrates would face impeachment if they would be found to have misused the JDF.

―The SC should make full accounting of the JDF fund. It‘s now time for Congress to look into the fund. We have to revisit the law creating it with the objective of amending or repealing the law,‖ Tupas said, referring to Presidential Decree No. 1949.

Deputy Majority Leader and Citizens‘ Battle Against Corruption party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna backed the investigation into the use of the JDF, saying ―all public funds should be transparently accounted for, whether JDF, DAP or PDAF.‖

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo backed the planned probe but pushed for ―prudence‖ since the move is widely seen by the public as getting back at the SC.

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―The plan to push the Supreme Court to account for the JBC Fund could be misconstrued as a way to get back at the high court,‖ Castelo said. ―The issue is timing.

Cabacungan, G. (2014, June 23). Speaker, 2 legislators say Aquino fairly handled pork scam cases. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/613449/speaker-2-legislators-say-aquino-fairly- handled-pork-scam-cases

MANILA, Philippines–Leaders of the House of Representatives are satisfied with the unfolding prosecution of Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada and their coaccused in the case, especially with President Aquino staying on the sidelines as a neutral observer.

―Out of respect for colleagues, P-Noy avoided a personal hand but allowed the wheels of justice to roll on. Just right, l think,‖ Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said on Sunday. Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello said: ―I think the Department of Justice and the Ombudsman have been fair, while Malacañang has tried not to have a high profile. As for swiftness, it‘s been just right, rejecting early calls for a rapid process.‖

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. gave credit to the President for allowing ―the wheels of justice [to move] in accordance with the procedure laid down by the law.‖

But Bello said the President should take a more proactive stance to ease fears that he had been coddling his allies linked to the pork barrel scam.

―I think, though, that the administration should make sure that the public sees it as equally concerned about the investigation and prosecution of people allied to it. The future of ‗daang matuwid‘ is at stake,‖ Bello said, referring to the administration‘s anticorruption campaign.

Can they go to Sona?

Belmonte and Barzaga said it was up to the Sandiganbayan whether to allow Revilla or Estrada and Enrile to attend the President‘s State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 28.

Just like the case of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo, who is detained in a hospital on corruption and electoral fraud charges, the three senators are unlikely to be allowed to go to the Sona, Belmonte said.

―But if [Enrile‘s] petition for bail on [account of] his advanced age and ailments is allowed, he could still attend,‖ Belmonte said.

Barzaga said that while Enrile, Estrada and Revilla would remain senators despite their indictment, it was still up to the Sandiganbayan to determine whether they could attend the Sona.

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Dissatisfied

Despite the detention of Revilla and the imminent arrest of Estrada and Enrile, lawmakers remain discontented with the pace and scope of the pork barrel scam prosecution.

Bayan Muna Rep. said key allies of the President, specifically Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, remained ―unscathed by any investigation.‖

―As it is, only the opposition is being hit and its members are threatened of being arrested. Maybe some small fry allies of the President may also be sacrificed but not the big fish. What would truly be a milestone is when an incumbent president is jailed for plunder or even just his big-time allies,‖ Colmenares said.

Bayan Muna Rep. cautioned the government against using the arrests of the senators to ―cover up‖ its inability to keep in check rising prices of agricultural commodities.

―The government should keep this in mind and immediately act to lower the prices of basic goods and services. An anticorruption campaign, and a selective one at that, should not be used as an excuse for criminal negligence for higher prices,‖ Zarate said.

Cabacungan, G. (2014, June 14). Antidynasty bill faces ‗loosening up‘ in House. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/611212/antidynasty-bill-faces-loosening-up-in- house

MANILA, Philippines—Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. is looking into the possibility of fixing the political dynasty limit to more than two family members in elective positions to ensure the anti-political dynasty bill‘s passage in Congress.

But Rep. Edgar Erice, one of the authors of the bill, said such revision would make the reform ―pointless‖ and only institutionalize family rule in the country.

Erice‘s House Bill No. 3587 or ―An Act Prohibiting the Establishment of Political Dynasties‖ has been tackled in plenary debates that started last month. The Senate has yet to come up with a counterpart bill.

Erice had proposed that a family should have only one member in an elective position, but he was open to a compromise cap of two to accommodate more than half of the 290 members of Congress who have a child, a spouse, a parent or a sibling who is serving in an elective capacity.

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―I‘m pushing for a definite limit of more than two, just so as to get the antidynasty bill passed and comply with the constitutional mandate. I‘m confident future Congresses can tighten it up,‖ said Belmonte in a text message.

In a press conference Tuesday, Belmonte, whose daughter is the elected vice mayor of Quezon City, said: ―I don‘t mind if it gets loosened up. Maybe even more than two as long as it passes, because the Constitution demands that we pass an antidynasty bill. If we pass an antidynasty bill now, which is not necessarily as strict as we would want it, I‘m sure it will affect somebody because some families are really so overextended.‖

Belmonte was hopeful that ―future Congresses‖ could tighten the bill down the road based on the prevailing public opinion.

―Public opinion is just laughing at us because they all think it will not happen. But if it happens, future public opinion and Congress can weigh in,‖ said Belmonte. ―I‘m not really as strict as the authors are, but I would like to see an antidynasty law approved.‖ In a text message, Erice said: ―There will be no reform if there are more than two because almost nobody will be affected… My position is, I cannot give in with more than two.‖

Erice noted that only 60 out of 290 members of the House have more than two family members in elected posts. Erice said that at least 180 members would be affected by his original dynasty cap of one family member.

Belmonte said a dynasty cap of one has ―absolutely no chance‖ of passing in Congress while he doubted whether a dynasty cap of two would be enacted.

Cabacungan, G. (2014, June 14). Belmonte won‘t clear all lawmakers linked to scam. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/611216/belmonte-wont-clear-all-lawmakers- linked-to-scam

MANILA, Philippines—Speaker Feliciano Belmonte has refused to issue a sweeping statement clearing of any wrongdoing the 100 past and present members of the Lower House tagged by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles as among her agents or beneficiaries in her pork barrel scam.

―How can I say everybody here is clean? Of course, we don‘t know that,‖ said Belmonte in response to calls from his fellow House leaders to make a strong statement defending his colleagues dragged into the pork barrel scam by Napoles‘ affidavit used in her failed bid to get immunity for her and her children.

In a press conference a day before Congress adjourned its session Wednesday, Belmonte advised his peers to always be prepared and take appropriate measures

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―If this were to happen in some other profession, it doesn‘t matter. They‘ll just laugh it off and forget it. Here, your enemies will always repeat it. That is why I told my companions here to be prepared and not just wait. Check your files and go to the COA (Commission on Audit) and DBM (Department of Budget and Management). These are public records,‖ said Belmonte. ―Some people did the same and found out that there is no such transfers of funds as being alleged.‖

Since part of the evidence submitted by whistle-blowers were Saros (or special release allotment orders released by the DBM indicating that budget items are ready for deployment), Belmonte said that this ―implied‖ that the money which went to ghost foundations and ghost projects were from legislators.

Cayabyab, M. (2014, June 12). 212 House bills passed at first session of Congress—Belmonte. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/610765/212-house-bills-passed-at-first-session- of-congress-belmonte

MANILA, Philippines—The House of Representatives has approved 212 bills during its first regular session of the 16th Congress, with both chambers passing five national laws.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said this in his speech before the Congress adjourns ―on a hopeful note.‖

He added that the lower chamber also filed more than 1,000 proposed measures. ―Our committees hit the ground running from the first day of this Congress to this hour to process and consolidate 1,097 measures to produce 328 committee reports…,‖ Belmonte said.

―In 71 session days, we passed in plenary five Republic Acts, put onstream for presidential approval 10 national bills, approved 212 bills on third reading, and adopted 107 resolutions,‖ he added.

One of the measures awaiting the president‘s approval is the bill requiring the printing of graphic warnings on at least 40 percent of the cigarettes packs.

Also awaiting the Chief Executive‘s approval is a bill seeking free mobile alerts during natural calamities and manmade disasters.

The others are those that extend the life of the Philippine National Railways, strengthen consumer protection in the purchase of new vehicles (―Lemon law‖), liberalize the entry and scope of foreign banks operations in the country, and promote the development of micro, small and medium enterprises or the Go Negosyo Bill.

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The other notable proposed laws passed on final reading is for the modernization of weather bureau Pagasa, which includes increasing the salaries of its personnel; as well as for increasing the prescriptive period for violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act to make it more difficult for public officials to evade accountability.

Meanwhile, education is a priority in the chamber, with at least 34 education bills approved on final reading.

Among the notable ones are those for ladderized education, open distance learning in higher education, unified student financial assistance system for higher technical education, voluntary student loan program of private banks, open high school system, free college education in information and technology, and the installation of special education centers in all public schools.

For agrarian reform, the chamber has approved bills to institutionalize credit support of the Land Bank of the Philippines for agrarian reform beneficiaries, farmers and fisherfolk; promote soil and water conservation technologies for sustainable land management, strengthen the regulatory functions of the Bureau of Fisheries; and to institute a national land use policy.

For health, the House passed bills for mandatory PhilHealth coverage for senior citizens, pre-hospital emergency medical care, and a price list from health care facilities of health care services.

―I can go on enumerating what we accomplished – but, let it suffice to state that the first regular session of the 16th Congress bore witness to a House that is at work despite the difficult changes we faced,‖ Belmonte said. The House of Representatives was faced with allegations that over 150 solons were included in the list of pork barrel scam beneficiaries furnished by principal whistleblower Benhur Luy. Janet Lim-Napoles had also furnished a list of at least 69 representatives tagged in the scam.

Plunder and graft charges were filed against lawmakers, officials and accused mastermind Napoles purportedly involved in the scam.

The scam involved billions of Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) allegedly spent on ghost projects to pocket commissions among lawmakers, officials and Napoles.

The practice of allotting billions of public funds to lawmakers for them to ease poverty in their constituencies was struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional at the height of the investigation on the scam.

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Cayabyab, M. (2014, June 12). House can‘t stay quiet on pork barrel scam– Belmonte. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/610730/house-cant-stay-quiet-on-pork-barrel- scam-belmonte

MANILA, Philippines – Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the House of Representatives cannot remain silent on ―baseless‖ accusations against it over the Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) scam.

―We cannot speak away nor remain silent on the unremitting assaults to the integrity of this House and of its members, often without basis, in the wake of the PDAF controversy,‖ Belmonte said in his privilege speech as the chamber adjourned its first regular session under the 16th Congress.

But the scam should not sway legislators from their mandate as ―representatives of our constituencies,‖ he added.

―This, our work in this first regular session, must and should speak eloquently for us as public servants, and as representatives of our constituencies to the best we can do,‖ Belmonte said.

The Speaker said only their performance as legislators would prove their ―fidelity to our people‘s trust.‖

―We have two years remaining in this 16th Congress to continue to make our performance speak for us and for this House,‖ Belmonte said.

The Speaker had opposed moves for the House to start a probe on their own colleagues tagged in the scam, even as its Senate counterpart has concluded its own. The Philippine Daily Inquirer published names of over 150 past and present representatives alleged to be involved in the scam according to the records of principal whistleblower Benhur Luy.

Meanwhile, the incumbent solons tagged in the list furnished by alleged mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles are: Pampanga Rep. Oscar Rodriguez, Cebu Rep. Gerald Gullas, Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla, Cebu City Rep. Raul Del Mar, Compostela Valley Rep. Rommel Amatong, Laguna Rep. Joaquin Chipeco Jr., Lanao Del Norte Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo, Abono party-list Rep. Conrado Estrella III, Bukidnon Rep. Florencio Flores, Masbate Rep. Scott Davies Lanete, An Waray Rep. Neil Benedict Montejo, La Union Rep. Victor Ortega, Abante Mindanao Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr., Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, and Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab.

The Ombudsman has already filed plunder charges against Senators Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce-Enrile, accused mastermind Napoles, and other personalities for their purported participation in the scam.

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The pork barrel in the form of PDAF has been seen as a tool for political patronage and corruption.

The practice of allotting billions of public funds to lawmakers for them to ease poverty in their constituencies was struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional at the height of the investigation on the scam.

Romero, P. (2014, May 19). Congress running out of time for Bangsamoro Law. The Philippine Star. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://digitaledition.philstar.com/newspaper/showArticle/55087/share/Congr ess-running-out-of-time-for-Bangsamoro-Law/

Congress is running out of time to scrutinize and approve the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law as it has yet to receive the document from Malacañang that seeks to establish a new autonomous region in Mindanao next year, leaders of the House of Representatives warned yesterday.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said he wants the House to have enough time to review the proposed law to help in ensuring lasting peace and prosperity in southern Philippines.

―No word yet from the Palace,‖ Belmonte said.

―Once I get one, I will study it as soon as possible. We will ensure that it will qualify and pass our Constitution,‖ he added.

The Bangsamoro Transition Commission submitted the draft of the document to Malacañang last month, but President Aquino‘s spokespersons said the proposed law would have to undergo another review.

House Majority Leader and City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II warned that every day of delay in submitting the proposed law means less time for lawmakers to study it and make sure it is not declared as unconstitutional.

―We want to discuss and deliberate it now before we adjourn again next month,‖ Gonzales said as he reiterated some of the steps to be taken by the House to speed up such as forming an ad hoc panel composed of various committees to review the document.

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, leader of the independent bloc, said the House must address serious concerns raised by Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) that reviewed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and its annexes.

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Philconsa chairman and retired justice Manuel Lazaro earlier briefed lawmakers on the constitutional issues of the CAB and its annexes that will comprise the proposed law.

―Up to now, we don‘t have a draft bill but based on the perusal of the annexes, there are provisions that will not pass the test of constitutionality if we do not amend the Constitution,‖ Romualdez said.

Lazaro said the country is faced with a situation where Malacañang has committed that Congress and the judiciary will uphold the CAB.

―So, what we have right now is a case of putting the cart before the horse. What should be done is to have first the Bangsamoro Basic Law to be passed by Congress and, thereafter, since there are provisions that require an amendment or a revision of the Constitution, that is again another matter,‖ he said.

Basilan Rep. Jim Hataman-Salliman, chairman of the committee on peace, reconciliation, and unity, earlier said the chamber must act quickly and thoroughly on the document to ensure its passage in time for scheduled holding of a plebiscite on the new autonomous region in Mindanao later this year.

He said Congress is working on tight schedule with the aim of having the Bangsamoro Transition Authority in place by January 2015, assuming the proposed law is approved in the plebiscite and is not derailed by petitions filed before the Supreme Court.

By 2016, elections of officials of the new Bangsamoro autonomous government will be held to coincide with the national and local polls.

_____. (2014, May 1). Belmonte wants calls for wage hikes out of lower House. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://newsinfo.inqui rer.net/598825/belmonte-wants-calls-for-wage-hikes-out-of-lower-house

MANILA, Philippines—Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said moves to increase the minimum wage should be brought to the wage boards instead of to the House of Representatives, Inquirer Radio 990AM reported on Thursday, Labor Day.

The report quoted Belmonte as saying the fight for wage increase should be done through wage boards and not through lawmakers.

According to the Wage Rationalization Act, Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board across the country will determine the minimum wage rates under the authority of the National Wages and Productivity Commission.

Lawmakers from the bloc were among those who took it to the lower House to push for the passage of a legislated wage hike.

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Under the Aquino administration, minimum wage increases in select regions range from P13 to P62 since 2010.

Romero, P. (2014, April 30). No need to ratify defense deal – SB. The Philippine Star. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/04/30/1317650/no-need-ratify- defense-deal-sb

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. believes the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) signed by the Philippine and US governments does not need Congress‘ approval for its implementation.

In an interview yesterday, Belmonte said the EDCA is constitutional as it was based on the previous security agreements of the two countries.

―Actually, it‘s just an enhancement of various existing treaties with the US,‖ Belmonte said, referring to the military assistance agreement between the Philippines and US in 1949, the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, and the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement.

Muntinlupa City Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, chairman of the House committee on national defense and security, said the Constitution mentions three conditions that may be present in an agreement that requires concurrence of the Senate.

Biazon said under the Constitution, an agreement would need the approval of the Senate if it is political in nature, permanent and requires changing some existing national policies. He said the EDCA is neither political nor permanent, as it is valid only for 10 years, and apparently does not require any change in policies.

―I would not want to preempt the Senate but Malacañang must provide Congress with copies of the EDCA so we can find out the role Congress must play in implementing this agreement,‖ Biazon said. He said there is another factor that is not mentioned in the Constitution, which is the legislative aspect of the implementation of any agreement.

―For example, if we will allow the use of our military facilities, there might be a need to undertake major construction. Who will spend for that?‖

Biazon said if the Philippine government would have to spend, such as in the widening of an airstrip or construction of bigger ports, this would require Congress to appropriate funds for the purpose.

Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian said EDCA would help the government‘s disaster response efforts, particularly in times of calamities.

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He said aside from strengthening military cooperation, EDCA seeks to promote maritime security and domain awareness as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR). He said the government should look closely into the HADR aspect of the agreement.

―The government should put more emphasis on the disaster preparedness and response of this agreement. We should learn from their advanced logistical know-how so we can improve our capability,‖ he said.

Gatchalian pointed out that EDCA was signed a month before the onset of the rainy season. ―The rainy season is only a month away and we cannot stop nature from creating another Yolanda. We must watch and learn from the US and make the most of what they can offer in terms of disaster response within the boundaries of the EDCA.‖

Meanwhile, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III joined his fellow senators in supporting the EDCA as a deterrent against acts of foreign aggression. – With Jess Diaz, Marvin Sy

Desiderio, L. (2014, April 24). Amendments to eco provisions of Constitution urged. The Philippine Star. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://www.philstar.com/business/2014/04/24/1315317/amendments-eco- provisions-constitution-urged

MANILA, Philippines - The Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) is urging Congress to amend economic provisions in the Constitution to promote inclusive growth and strengthen national security.

In a statement yesterday, the FEF said Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.‘s proposal to introduce changes to the economic provisions of the Constitution would be beneficial in the country‘s goal of making the strong economic growth benefit more people and achieving national security.

―We call on Congress to promote inclusive growth, reduce poverty, generate jobs, improve consumer welfare, enhance competition, modernize our strategic infrastructure, and strengthen our national security in an all-around way by passing the Belmonte bill to amend the Constitution,‖ the group said

Belmonte‘s resolution seeks to insert the phrase ―unless otherwise provided by law‖ to Articles XII (national economy and patrimony), XIV (education, science and technology, arts, culture and sports), and XVI (general provisions) for Congress to be able to ease restrictions on foreign ownership in certain industries in the future.

The group said the proposal would provide the key to opening up areas of the economy to more foreign investments, thereby providing more competition, facilitating technology transfer, generating jobs, and improving consumer choice.

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The country‘s strong economic growth, which has been driven primarily by domestic consumption, has not led to more jobs and reduced poverty.

―Through the restrictive limits set in our Constitution, we are signalling to foreign investors that they are not we come, especially in critical areas like the establishment and operation of public utilities,‖ the FEF said.

The group said enabling Congress to open up areas of the economy currently prohibited by the Constitution would also strengthen national security.

―By increasing foreign direct investments, the country will increase the economic interest of our friends and allies in the international community to maintain our territorial integrity and to uphold freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea,‖ the group said.

Well-capitalized foreign companies can help modernize and provide competition in strategic sectors of the economy like seaports, airports, telecommunications, shipping, and air transport which are vital for the country‘s national security.

―If well-capitalized world-class companies are allowed to own and operate public utilities like airports, seaports, shipping, and telecommunications beyond the present limit of 40 percent set by the Constitution, the quality and quantity of bidders for PPP (Public- Private Partnerships) will dramatically improve. This can only auger well for PPP Projects particularly in strategic infrastructure,‖ the FEF said.

Salaverria, L. (2014, April 16). Moro basic law priority. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/594569/moro-basic- law-priority

The House of Representatives will give priority to the draft Bangsamoro basic law, but will not completely sideline other important measures pending in the plenary, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said on Tuesday.

In a text message to the Inquirer, Belmonte also said he hoped to have the draft law approved on third and final reading by the end of the year.

The Palace is expected to submit the Bangsamoro bill to Congress when it resumes sessions on May 5.

―We will give it priority but not exclusivity,‖ Belmonte said when asked if deliberations on other measures will be stopped once the Bangsamoro bill reaches the floor.

The bill would create a Bangsamoro autonomous region that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), fleshing out the peace agreement

Drafted by DRO II Mico A. Galang, 17 July 2014 1345H Page 43 of 64 signed by the administration of President Aquino with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) last month.

Malacañang and the MILF, the largest rebel organization in Mindanao, expect the Bangsamoro basic law to be challenged in the Supreme Court, but both believe it can stand legal scrutiny.

The Palace said Tuesday that it remained optimistic that the new Bangsamoro autonomous region would be established before President Benigno Aquino III steps down in 2016.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said the Palace legal team reviewing the draft law was ―familiar‖ with it, having been consulted by members of the government peace panel during negotiations with the MILF.

―There is a sense of urgency in being able to complete this review because we are all aware of the indicative timetable,‖ Coloma told reporters at a briefing in the Palace.

―Even while the [peace] agreement was being negotiated, the [government] panel was consulting regularly with the same panel that is now reviewing the draft law. So we can be [sure] that the people [doing the review] are quite familiar with the agreement,‖ he said.

Earlier, leaders of both houses of Congress committed to the government timetable of passing the basic law by the end of the year.

Plebiscite After passage, the basic law would be submitted for approval in a plebiscite in areas in the south that are proposed to be included in the Bangsamoro autonomous region. The composition of the new autonomous region will be based on the outcome of the plebiscite. Residents of the areas proposed to be included in Bangsamoro will decide whether they want to be part of the new autonomous region.

Core territory

The ―core territory‖ of Bangsamoro will include the five provinces within the ARMM and Marawi City. It will also include the cities of Cotabato and Isabela, and the six municipalities in Lanao del Norte province that voted to become part of the ARMM in a plebiscite in 2001 (Baloi, Munai, Pantar, Nunungan, Tagaloan and Tangkal).

Thirty-nine villages in six North Cotabato towns that voted to be included in the ARMM will also be part of the proposed Bangsamoro. The six towns are Labacan, Carmen, Aleosan, Pigkawaya, Pikit and Midsayap.

The goal is to hold the election for members of the Bangsamoro assembly simultaneously with the national elections in 2016.

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The elected Bangsamoro assembly members will then elect a chief minister among themselves.

The chief minister will be the head of the Bangsamoro ministerial government.

Submitted to Palace

Mohagher Iqbal, head of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, on Monday submitted to Malacañang the draft of the basic law, which was based on the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed on March 27.

Coloma said he would check whether Iqbal submitted a complete document.

Pending verification, he said, ―what is most important … is that the legal team will be able to do everything that is necessary to be able to submit the draft bill to the President for his own review and approval.‖

―Throughout the entire process, the [government] and [the] MILF panels have exercised the requisite due diligence, industry and determination in order to complete the agreement and in order to bring it to where it is now,‖ Coloma said.

―So I think we can say with a reasonable degree of confidence that there is reason to be optimistic that the timetable can be met,‖ he said.

The House will resume work on several crucial measures when it returns from its Lenten break. Plenary deliberations are expected on the controversial constitutional amendment and antipolitical dynasty bills, and the budget bill is also expected to be submitted to Congress later in the year, most likely after President Aquino‘s State of the Nation Address.

FOI bill

Proponents of the freedom of information (FOI) bill are also hoping to have it approved at the committee level and put through debate before the Bangsamoro bill reaches the floor.

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat on Tuesday said the FOI bill may not be shunted aside in favor of the Bangsamoro bill, as the information measure was in a more advanced stage.

The Bangsamoro bill is expected to face scrutiny by the minority and several Mindanao legislators as well as constitutionalists, Baguilat noted, which means it may not clear the committee level immediately.

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The FOI bill is also still pending with the committee on public information, but Baguilat said that as long as its proponents stick to their game plan and the chair sets regular meetings, there should be no problem in getting the measure out of the committee. Earlier, Belmonte promised that the FOI bill would be approved by the House before the end of his term.

_____ . (2014, April 12). House won‘t allow abortion bill – Speaker Belmonte. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/593881/house-wont-allow-abortion-bill-speaker- belmonte

MANILA, Philippines – Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the House of Representatives would not allow an abortion bill, allaying fears that such legislation would follow the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) law.

―The idea of having an abortion bill is very far-fetched and involves playing God to the unborn which is a role we will not play,‖ Belmonte said in a statement.

He added that such a bill ―also runs counter to our principle of aiming to improve the lives of our people.‖

―It is not and cannot ever be in our agenda,‖ Belmonte said.

In a report, retired archbishop Oscar Cruz expressed said he fears that an abortion bill may follow the RH law, which was ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court despite petitions against it.

The controversial law mandates the government to provide access to family planning methods such as contraception, a sensitive topic in this predominantly Catholic country. Belmonte also allayed fears that an even more controversial legislation that would legalize gay marriage may follow. Congress has yet to file such a bill, and Belmonte said this is merely ―speculation.‖

Meanwhile, an equally contentious measure that seeks to legalize divorce is still in the middle of the legislative mill, Belmonte said.

The Speaker also refused to comment on the bill as it will still go through the legislative process.

―While a Divorce Bill has been indeed filed, my personal views on the issue as well as those of my colleagues will be irrelevant at this point because like any measure filed, it will have to go through the regular legislative process,‖ Belmonte said.

―This means that thorough studies, committee and possible public hearings will still be held before the bill reaches final congressional approval,‖ he added.

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Under the 15th Congress, Gabriela party-list Representatives Luzviminda Ilagan and Emmi De Jesus filed House Bill 1799, which seeks to legalize divorce. But the measure was stuck in the committee level.

The militant solons said they would refile the bill in the 16th Congress, but they have yet to do so. Rep. Ilagan told INQUIRER.net they would refile it when the chamber resumes session in May.

―We just updated the data in the explanatory note… But the provisions basically remained the same,‖ Ilagan said.

Diaz, J. (2014, April 7). Bangsamoro law will be constitutional – Belmonte. The Philippine Star. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://digitaledition.philstar.com/newspaper/showArticle/49286/share/Bang samoro-law-will-be-constitutional-Belmonte/

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. assured the nation yesterday that the law creating a new Bangsamoro region in Mindanao, which the House of Representatives and the Senate would soon pass, would be constitutional.

―We are certainly working on the theory that its constitutionality can be assured,‖ he said in response to apprehensions expressed by some lawmakers that the peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which would be carried out through a law, runs counter to the Constitution.

The draft legislation on the new region would soon be submitted to the House and the Senate.

Belmonte said the autonomy to be extended to the region would be within the context of one sovereign nation.

―There will be autonomy for the establishment of the Bangsamoro juridical entity but we will remain as one sovereign nation,‖ he said.

―All discussions to be made will be guided by existing laws and consistent with the provisions of the Constitution. National sovereignty is not an issue here because it will not be violated. The supremacy of the Constitution will always be upheld during the deliberations on the proposed law,‖ he added.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., one of the leaders of the House majority coalition, said he and his colleagues would make sure that the Bangsamoro law would comply with the Constitution.

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―Congress will carefully deliberate on the proposed law for the establishment of the Bangsamoro to avoid legal infirmities that may jeopardize the peace talks with the MILF,‖ he said.

He said he and his colleagues could either scrap or rewrite the provisions that are deemed constitutionally questionable.

For his part, Rep. Sherwin Tugna of party-list group Citizens Battle Against Corruption said criticisms from all sectors, including those of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, ―are at the moment premature and speculative.‖

Santiago has branded the peace agreement as unconstitutional, as it would erode the powers of the central government.

―At this point, Sen. Santiago‘s statement is speculative at best. Congress has yet to approve the Bangsamoro basic law, which will be the legal framework for the implementation of the peace agreement. We should make sure that such law would hurdle all constitutional questions,‖ he said.

Earlier, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, another majority coalition leader, said Congress should correct whatever constitutional flaws there are in the peace deal and the law that would implement it.

―We will have the opportunity to correct whatever defects there may be in this agreement so that we can save the peace process for the sake of the people of Mindanao, especially those of Central Mindanao,‖ he said.

Rodriguez, a former law dean, said he, like Santiago, would not support a proposed basic law that would violate the Constitution.

―As I have told the House committee on peace and reconciliation and the committee on Muslim affairs, when the draft of the basic law is submitted to the House, we will have to make sure that it conforms with the Constitution,‖ he said.

He said he made this point clear with the MILF negotiators and the government panel.

He recalled that the government negotiators assured congressmen that they strictly followed President Aquino‘s instruction that all provisions of the agreement should comply with the Constitution.

Bacani, L. (2014, March 11). Belmonte: Hang me if this House fails to pass FOI. The Philippine Star. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/03/11/1299695/belmonte-hang-me- if-house-fails-pass-foi

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MANILA, Philippines - While he just said it in jest, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. assured on Tuesday that the House of Representatives will approve the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill during the 16th Congress.

In a press conference, a transcript of which was sent to media outfits, Belmonte said they are "working on it (FOI bill)" and reiterated his promise to pass the measure in the present Congress.

"Well, ang ipinangako ko during the 16th Congress. Bitayin ninyo ako kung matapos ito at hindi pa nakakapasa," Belmonte said with a laugh.

Senator Grace Poe, author of the Senate-approved FOI bill, said she is confident with Belmonte's promise.

"Pero ako naman ay kumpyansa na merong minungkahi si Speaker Sonny [Belmonte] na sabi nya na within the 16th Congress ay papasa yung FOI sa lower house. Para sa 'kin isang malaking development na rin yan," she told reporters on Monday.

The Senate approved the FOI Bill only a week after it hurdled the period of amendments and was passed on second reading.

But there are doubts if the controversial measure will receive the same speedy treatment in the lower chamber, where Belmonte's proposal to amend the Constitution seems to be among the priorities.

According to the Congress website, the lone FOI bill filed in the House of Representatives was authored by Laguna 3rd District Rep. Sol Aragones, a former journalist.

After its filing on January 27, the bill was referred to and read by the Committee on Public Information last February 3.

During that same month, Malacañang pointed out that Congress has never approved an FOI bill.

"We are awaiting the action that the Senate will take on the matter since it is also an independent body," Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.

At a televised press briefing on Tuesday, Coloma renewed calls for the quick passage of the FOI bill. However, he reiterated that President Benigno Aquino III won't certify the measure as urgent since he is "very circumspect in the use of presidential power."

"Nais ko ring ipunto na even without the enactment by Congress of an FOI Bill, isina- kongkreto na ng ating pamahalaan ang maraming prinsipyo na nagtataguyad sa

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After their sessions tomorrow, both chambers of Congress will be on a seven-week Lenten break and will reconvene on May 5.

Salaverria, L. (2014, March 4). Charter change bill takes off in House. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/582115/charter-change-bill-takes-off-in-house

MANILA, Philippines—Charter change took a step closer to reality with the approval on Monday of a resolution to amend the protectionist provisions and foreign participation limits in the Constitution, despite dire warnings from local businessmen and legal experts.

The House committee on constitutional amendments approved the measure overwhelmingly, with 24 congressmen voting in its favor, two objecting and one abstaining.

The resolution, principally authored by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, would add the phrase ―unless otherwise provided by law‖ to the Constitution‘s articles concerning the national economy and patrimony; education, science, technology, arts, culture and sports; and general provisions.

This would not automatically remove the foreign ownership and participation limits as stipulated in the Charter. Congress would still have to pass laws to lift the restrictions, and they may do this for the constitutional provisions that prevent foreigners from operating public utilities and educational institutions, and from undertaking activities to develop or utilize the country‘s natural resources, for example.

Belmonte and the other proponents of the resolution had touted it as a tool to increase foreign direct investment to boost the economy.

With the approval, the resolution would now move to the plenary for deliberations. Should it be approved by the House, it would be forwarded to the Senate.

Once the Senate approves it, the measure would be subject to a plebiscite.

Consultations first

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares had objected to the vote, saying public consultations all over the country should be completed first.

Colmenares also disagreed with the substance of the resolution, adding that allowing greater participation by foreign investors in the country‘s affairs would not necessarily lead to progress and might be even detrimental to the country.

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Economic and legal experts were also divided on the issue, he noted.

But foreign businessmen had vigorously supported Belmonte‘s resolution, saying that more foreign investments would help modernize the country‘s infrastructure and boost its defense capability. They said the proposed amendment would also allow for more flexibility in the country‘s economic policies and allow it to respond to changes brought about by globalization.

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop), however, had warned that this could lead to instability, as the economic provisions and policies could be amended at any time, subject to the whims of the lawmakers. The fundamental law of the land would also be reduced to the level of ordinary legislation, Ecop pointed out.

Joint assembly

Ecop further warned that future Congresses might also insert the phrase ―unless otherwise provided by law‖ to the social and political aspects of the Constitution.

Legal experts had also expressed reservations about the process the House followed. Retired Supreme Court Justices Reynato Puno and Vicente Mendoza had said it would be better if both houses of Congress met in joint assembly and voted separately to tackle proposals to amend the Constitution.

They also expressed concern about the proposal in the Charter change resolution to add the phrase ―unless otherwise provided by law‖ to the Constitution‘s economic provisions, with Mendoza saying this would make the provisions subject to change by Congress anytime, and would thus render the constitutional policies ―tentative and uncertain.‖

But retired Justice Adolf Azcuna and constitutionalist Joaquin Bernas, both members of the commission that drafted the 1987 Constitution, took the position that Congress need not necessarily meet in a joint assembly to propose the changes.

Azcuna also supported Belmonte‘s Charter change proposal, saying it would make the economic provisions flexible.

Romero, P. (2014, February 27). Belmonte reiterates need for Charter amendments. The Philippine Star. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/02/27/913620/belmonte-reiterates- need-charter-amendments

MANILA, Philippines - The country‘s growth is on the right track but much remains to be done, including by Congress, to make sure the economy would not be derailed, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said yesterday.

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In his keynote speech during the second anniversary forum of ―Arangkada Philippines‖ organized by the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) and its partner organizations, Belmonte reiterated the need for amendments to the 1987 Constitution to attract more foreign investments and create jobs.

He said the 15th Congress and the JFC have been part of the country‘s positive developments, including the downtrend in the external debt to GDP ratio, increased performance of the manufacturing and services sector, as well as the improved governance and anti-corruption rankings.

The Speaker said the 15th Congress has enacted 213 national bills into laws aimed at attracting investments, promote transparency, and raise revenues.

These include the Sin Tax Reform Act, Data Privacy Act, People‘s Survival Fund, Anti- Terrorist Financing Act and amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Belmonte said several other key measures are just awaiting President Aquino‘s signature, including the bills pushed by the JFC such as the rationalization of taxes on international carriers; strengthening of the National Electrification Administration; encouraging conciliation and mediation in labor disputes; amendments to the intellectual property code; and universal health care coverage.

Sabillo, K. (2014, February 20). Palace: Aquino not buying Belmonte‘s view on Charter change. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/579377/palace-aquino-not-buying-belmontes- view-on-charter-change

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III does not agree with Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. when it comes to amending the Constitution, Malacañang said Thursday.

―I suppose Speaker Belmonte has a position different from the President,‖ presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during a regular press briefing.

Lacierda said Aquino is maintaining his position ―that there is no need to amend the economic provisions of the Charter‖ amid Belmonte‘s endorsement of Charter change in the House of Representative.

He reiterated the President‘s explanation that the economy is doing well at present, even without constitutional amendments. He also mentioned China, which was often cited by the President as a country that continues to grow despite its prohibition on foreign ownership of land.

Belmonte, a known administration ally, has been pushing for Charter change as a priority measure in the lower house.

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Romero, P. (2013, October 15). Belmonte pushes passage of Fair Competition Act. The Philippine Star. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://www.philstar.com/business/2013/10/15/1245265/belmonte-pushes- passage-fair-competition-act

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. is seeking the swift enactment of his proposed Philippine Fair Competition Act of 2013 that aims to minimize unfair competition and dismantle monopolies and cartels to protect consumers and the economy from powerful business interests.

Belmonte‘s House Bill 1133 is pending at the House Committee on Trade and Industry chaired by Las Piñas City Rep. Mark Villar. It is a refiled measure of HB 4835 of the 15th Congress with some improvements.

The Speaker said the measure ―aims to encourage fair and free economic competition by prohibiting the abuse of market dominant positions and the excessive concentration of economic power by regulating improper concerted acts and unfair business practices, thereby stimulating creative business activities, protecting consumers and promoting the balanced development of the national economy.‖

―The economy continues to be dominated by groups of businesses with substantial market power and political influence. Also, competition in the domestic market remains restricted in key sectors,‖ Belmonte said.

He said the 1987 Constitution expressly provides that ―the State shall regulate or prohibit monopolies when the public interest so requires.‖ The Constitution also stipulates that ―no combinations in restraint of trade or unfair competition shall be allowed.‖

Belmonte said despite the constitutional guarantees and the existence of laws that affect competition, such laws have proven to be inadequate.

He cited the lack of genuine competition in certain industries impairs public welfare and undermines the country‘s credibility to provide a business climate conducive to investment.

The House said the presence of a comprehensive competition policy would further boost the country‘s gross domestic product (GDP) to rise at par with the country‘s first world counterparts; improve real wage; and lead to lower consumer prices.

Belmonte said as outlined in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) blueprint adopted in 2007, all ASEAN member states, including the Philippines, would endeavor to introduce competition policy by 2015.

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The bill provides for the creation of a Philippine Fair Trade Commission (PFTC) to be under the Office of the President and which would investigate, gather evidence and initiate prosecution of those engaged in unfair trade practices. It would also look into the description of cartels and monopolies, and impose defined sanctions and penalties for violation of the Fair Competition Act.

The bill also mandates that the exercise of regulatory powers by different government agencies, including local government units (LGUs), over an industry or subsector thereof should be cumulative and should not be construed in any way as derogating from the power and authority of the PFTC.

While the PFTC would have primary and sole jurisdiction over competition issues, the regulatory bodies would continue to exercise jurisdiction over all matters with regard to the firms‘ operation and exercise.

The bill provides it would be unlawful for firms to engage in anti-competitive acts that prevent, distort, or restrict competition unless otherwise exempted. These prohibited acts should include price fixing and bid rigging.

The bill also provides that it would be unlawful for one or more firms to abuse their dominant position by engaging in unfair methods of competition, or in unfair or deceptive trade practices, or entering into combinations in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, with the purpose and effect to prevent, restrict or distort competition. Among the prohibited acts should be: predatory behavior towards competitors; limitation and control of markets; market allocation; arrangements to share markets or sources of supply; price discrimination; exclusivity arrangement; tie-in arrangements; and boycott.

The measure also prohibits anti-competitive mergers. It provides that no firm engaged in commerce or trade should acquire, directly or indirectly, the whole or any part of the stock or other share capital, or the whole or any part of the assets, of one or more firms engaged in any line of commerce or trade where the effect of such acquisition of such stocks, share capital, or assets, or of the use of such stock by voting or granting of proxies or otherwise maybe to substantially lessen competition, or tend to create a monopoly.

The bill offers a leniency program to any person or firm that should cooperate or furnish any information, document or data to the PFTC before or during the conduct of the preliminary inquiry that constitutes material evidence as determined by the Commission.

Romero, P. (2013, August 18). Belmonte urges sustained efforts to grow economy. The Philippine Star. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://digitaledition.philstar.com/newspaper/showArticle/18608/share/Belm onte-urges-sustained-efforts-to-grow-economy/

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The country‘s steady growth should not be taken lightly as the global economic giants continue to grapple with recession, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. warned during a recent business forum.

―Recession sweeps many parts of the world, including Europe. Tentative growth appears to be the best news from large economies like China, India, and Brazil. Against this backdrop, our country‘s strong economic performance is not a small feat,‖ Belmonte told members of the Wallace Business Forum held last week.

Belmonte is gratified by the business sector‘s continued support for determined efforts of government to pursue institutional reforms that allowed the 15th Congress to pass historic and game-changing laws.

―With your support, we in Congress have once again earned the trust and confidence of our people,‖ the Speaker said as he anticipates that the 16th Congress could equal or even surpass the feat of the previous Congress.

He cited the overhaul of the appropriations process, creating the ―habit of promptly enacting transparent and responsive national budgets, the first ever Reproductive Health Law and the Sin Tax Law which for about 15 years languished in the dust bin of the legislative process.

Buoyed by the positive prognosis of the country‘s continued economic growth by international development institutions, Belmonte noted the steady improvement in the nation‘s competitiveness rankings, jumping 22 notches since 2009.

Even as the country‘s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 7.8 percent in the first quarter of 2013, erasing the image of the Philippines as the ―sick man of Asia,‖ Belmonte stressed ―more has yet to be done.‖

―Our growth rate has even outpaced the rest of Asia. With all these positive developments, we can never be complacent. The work is not yet done,‖ he said.

To attain sustained growth, he cited the need to extricate the economy from being a consumption-driven system to that of production-driven or dynamically mobilized by investments.

―These investments need to be sustainable, industry-expanding, and job creating,‖ he said adding that the country still has the lowest investment-to-GDP ratio and the lowest share of foreign direct investments among its regional peers.

To create an environment that is conducive to investments, Belmonte said, ―we need to maintain macroeconomic stability, while pursuing structural reforms that reduce risks and increase returns on investments.‖

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One vital reform avenue the government is pursuing is the adoption of a prudent fiscal policy to enable it to contain its budget deficit and reduce its outstanding debt, he said.

―Together with the effective management of our monetary aggregates by the Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas, we kept our inflation rates low, built up healthy foreign exchange reserves, and stabilized our exchange rate,‖ he said.

He also cited the proposed 2014 P2.268-trillion national spending bill now being deliberated by the House as one vital measure that complies with the same basic tenet of promoting macroeconomic stability and productive capacity through investment in human capital formation and economic infrastructure.

―The overarching truth that will thread together all reforms is—and will always be—good governance. Unwavering and staunchly committed leadership will win the day,‖ Belmonte said.

Bacani, L. (2013, April 26). Belmonte: Gun control to be taken up in 16th Congress. The Philippine Star. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/04/26/935207/belmonte-gun- control-be-taken-16th-congress

MANILA, Philippines - After a recent survey showed that 3 out of 4 Filipinos support a gun control policy, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said on Friday that the issue would be taken up in the next Congress.

Reiterating his call for a strict gun control, Belmonte said the matter "would most likely" be among the many concerns to be raised when the 16th Congress opens in July.

Earlier this year, Belmonte said the country certainly needs greater firearms control. A total ban except for those in the military, police and security agencies, was only ideal as long as illegal firearms thrive, he added.

Meanwhile, one of the authors of a gun control measure filed in the lower house stressed the need for "comprehensive, sustainable and stricter" regulations on all types of firearms and its components.

Marikina City 1st District Representative Marcelino Teodoro said the proliferation of firearms is becoming rampant, making it easier for criminal entities to perform acts of violence.

"A gun control law must be upheld and fully enforced upon by the concerned agencies and supported by the government to eradicate criminal acts," said Teodoro, one of the authors of House Bill 5484 or the Comprehensive Firearms, Light Weapons and Ammunition Regulation Act of 2012.

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The House of Representatives approved the said bill on third and final reading on Jan. 24, 2012, and sent it to the Senate two days later.

Last February 4 or more than a year later, the Senate approved on third and final reading a similar gun measure, the Senate Bill 3397 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

The said bill had been adopted by the Lower House as an amendment to HB 5484.

Among other violations, the Senate measure penalizes the illegal acquisition or ownership of three or more light firearms, which is punishable by lifetime imprisonment.

The gun measure was filed in the Senate last January, a month when gun-related incidents such the Atimonan, Quezon shooting and the New Year stray bullet cases were highlighted.

Earlier this week, a Pulse Asia survey showed that 75 percent of Filipinos are in favor of the implementation of a gun control policy.

In the survey that covered 1,800 people aged 18 and above, only seven percent disagreed to such regulation, while 18 percent were undecided on the issue.

The survey also showed that most Filipinos (78 percent) prefer a policy that only allows law enforcers and licensed private security guards to carry firearms in public places.

A sizeable majority of the respondents (67 percent) also think that guns and their proliferation are among the key reasons why crime and violence occur in the country.

Diola, C. (2012, December 31). Belmonte: RH, sin tax are House's 'legacy'. The Philippine Star. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2012/12/31/891895/belmonte-rh-sin-tax- are-houses-legacy

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Monday called the passage of controversial legislative measures such as the Sin Tax and the Reproductive Health (RH) bills a "legacy" of the House of Representatives as the year comes to a close.

"Through all the controversies and challenges, this 15th Congress has left a legacy and laid the groundwork for reforms and responding to the more urgent concerns of majority of our people," Belmonte said in a statement summing up the past year for the lower house of Congress.

A co-author of the House version of the divisive RH bill, Belmonte said that Congress "stood up and fought for" its passage through "countless debates" that took 14 years of re-filing and re-writing.

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He also said that the approval of excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol products under his leadership was a sign that lawmakers are "paying heed to the social welfare concerns" of Filipinos.

"A total of 972 vital measures have been passed, many of which are truly significant and directly address matters close to the heart of each sector," the speaker said, adding that the "Kasambahay" bill granting benefits to household helpers is among these measures.

Belmonte, the fourth highest government official, also regarded a highlight of a "colorful and historic year" the impeachment of Chief Justice Corona, which arose from a complaint from the representatives.

"Best remembered was the impeachment of then Chief Justice which was an endeavor that entailed a lot of challenges ... The House was at the forefront of this historic move to end corruption in the country," he said.

He also expressed confidence that the lower house had been responsive to situations of urgency such as the floods by Habagat in August and the ravages of typhoon Pablo in southern Philippines.

"I am proud to say, lawmakers responded quickly not just by way of financial and relief assistance but through bills and resolutions filed in an effort to prevent casualties and damage from such disasters should they occur again in the future," Belmonte said.

The former Quezon City mayor promised 2013 as another year for Congress to make a mark as "the most responsive" in representing each solon's constituents.

Esguerra, C. (2012, December 19). Divorce bill next–Belmonte. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/326581/divorce-bill-next-belmonte

While Roman Catholic bishops and prolife groups were still recovering from their crushing defeat on the reproductive health (RH) bill, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte dropped yet another bombshell—he wants a divorce law in predominantly Catholic Philippines.

―Me, I‘m in favor of the divorce bill,‖ Belmonte said Tuesday when asked during a pre- Christmas lunch with reporters.

But he admitted that passing a divorce bill would have to wait because congressmen would be busy campaigning for next year‘s midterm elections.

Asked if a divorce law would be passed in the next Congress, Belmonte—who described himself as a Christian—said he didn‘t know what the composition of the House of Representatives would be then, ―but I think so.‖

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After Malta legalized divorced last year, the Philippines has become the only country in the world—apart from the Vatican—without a divorce law.

Representatives Luzviminda Ilagan and Emerenciana de Jesus of the militant group Gabriela have a pending bill seeking to amend the Family Code to include a divorce provision.

Belmonte said the measure remained at the committee level and was unlikely to be passed soon.

―Not this time, but it‘s there at the back of our minds,‖ he said. ―I just want the idea to be there … I want that to remain in the consciousness of congressmen so at some point, we can take it up again.‖

Failed, unhappy marriages

In their explanatory note to House Bill No. 1799, Ilagan and De Jesus said their divorce proposal was in line with ―the policy of the State to protect and strengthen marriage and the family as basic social institutions.‖

―Reality tells us that there are many failed, unhappy marriages across all Filipino classes,‖ they said. ―Many couples, especially from the marginalized sectors who have no access to the courts, simply end up separating without the benefit of legal processes.‖

The two lawmakers said ―cultural prescriptions and religious norms keep many couples together despite the breakdown of their marriages.‖

Bigger fight

―While absolute fidelity is demanded of wives, men are granted sexual license to have affairs outside marriage. Yet when the marriage fails, the woman is blamed for its failure,‖ they added.

But Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez—an opponent of the RH bill—rejected the divorce proposal, warning it would further erode family values.

―If we opposed the RH bill, the more that we will oppose a divorce bill,‖ Rodriguez told the Inquirer. ―This will definitely destroy families and the future of their children.‖ Rodriguez did not appear surprised that discussions on a divorce law were now happening, especially after Congress passed the RH bill despite strong opposition from the Catholic Church.

He earlier warned that an RH law would open a ―pandora‘s box‖ of related demands, such as legislation on abortion, divorce and same-sex marriage.

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―That‘s the progression,‖ he said. ―All they need is a crack to open and change our values system.‖

A covenant, a ‗mystery‘

The Church considers marriage a ―covenant‖ and has long opposed divorce, allowing annulment but under strict conditions.

―Marriage is not a purely human institution despite the many variations it may have undergone through the centuries in different cultures, social structures and spiritual attitudes,‖ according to the Catechism of the Church.

―The Scripture speaks throughout of marriage and its ‗mystery,‘ its institution and the meaning God has given it, its origin and its end, its various realizations throughout the history of salvation, the difficulties arising from sin and its renewal ‗in the Lord‘ in the New Covenant of Christ and the Church.‖

Belmonte justified his preference for a divorce law, saying: ―If your lives are no longer tolerable, why (not divorce)?‖

Now that Congress has passed the RH bill, he said he would reach out to Catholic bishops.

―I would, definitely I would,‖ he said. ―I don‘t see any lasting acrimony between us.‖

Grounds for divorce

HB 1799 cites five grounds for divorce, among them ―irreconcilable differences that have caused the irreparable breakdown of the marriage.‖

Divorce can also be sought if the ―petitioner has been separated de facto from his or her spouse for at least five years at the time of the filing of the petition and reconciliation is highly improbable.‖ Legal separation from a spouse ―for at least two years‖ is also a ground, according to the bill.

―When one or both spouses are psychologically incapacitated to comply with the essential marital obligations,‖ he or she could also file for divorce. Any of the existing grounds for legal separation that has caused ―irreparable breakdown of marriage‖ could also be a ground.

Flores, W. L. (2011, October 2). Speaker Sonny Belmonte: Stronger, Better at 75 & his greatest success. The Philippine Star. Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://www.philstar.com/sunday-life/732585/speaker-sonny-belmonte- stronger-better-75-his-greatest-success

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The purpose of life is a life of purpose. — Robert Byrne

Speaker Feliciano ―Sonny‖ Belmonte Jr. today celebrates his 75th birthday as one of the country‘s most respected statesmen, a Christian civic leader, the most outstanding mayor of Quezon City, an award-winning journalist, a lawyer, poetry and music aficionado, book and art lover, coin collector, a working student in his youth, a good family man.

SB‘s Greatest Success

More than all his multifarious political, civic and other accomplishments, I believe Sonny Belmonte‘s greatest success is that of being a successful father.

Finding his star: Sonny Belmonte and wife, STAR co-founder Betty Go Belmonte He and his late wife, Philippine STAR co-founder Betty Go-Belmonte, successfully raised four humble, hardworking and talented children who are now continuing their public service commitments in diverse fields — eldest child Isaac is STAR editor in chief; second child Kevin is Philstar.com president and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) director; third child Miguel is the president and chief executive officer who built up the Star Group of Publications and turned it into the Philippines‘ leading print media group; and only daughter Joy is dynamic Quezon City vice mayor and Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc. chairperson.

A Working Student, Award-Winning Reporter & Self-Made Man

The Speaker was born on Oct. 2, 1936 as Feliciano Racimo Belmonte Jr. to. Judge Feliciano Belmonte, Sr. from Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija, and his wife, teacher Luz Racimo from Vintar, Ilocos Norte. His birthplace was the Emmanuel Hospital in Manila near an eskinita in Sampaloc where his parents resided in the 1930s.

He grew up and studied well in Zaragoza in Nueva Ecija, Baguio City, Manila and Albay, before enrolling at San Beda College for his third year high school studies. It was at San Beda where he started his passion for journalism and became news editor of The Bedan school paper with future House Speaker Ramon ―Monching‖ Mitra, Jr. as its editor in chief. He was also an honor student and a youth leader.

While a working student going to law school, the young Sonny Belmonte started working at the Manila Chronicle with a salary of P60, which could be advanced at P2 a day. He was eventually assigned to cover one of Manila‘s best and most charismatic leaders, the late Mayor Arsenio Lacson.

The hardworking reporter Belmonte‘s first bylined story was on the killing of Manuel Monroy, principal witness to the bribery case against a top Cabinet member. He also recalled writing about a band of killers in Manila‘s Tondo district called the ―Greasegun

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Gang.‖ A highlight of his journalistic career was when he won the Stanvac Journalism Award from the National Press Club in 1957.

Outstanding Law Student, Civic Leader Here & Abroad

One of Sonny‘s unforgettable teachers in law school was the legendary nationalist Senator Claro M. Recto, who taught him Civil Procedure. Recto told the class that Sonny was the smartest student he ever had and gave him a final grade of 100 percent, which was even contested by the Education Department and which Recto defended.

He would later pass the 1960 Bar examinations with high grades — 94 percent in Political Law, 93 percent in International Law and Land Registration and Mortgages, and with a general weighted average of 85.55 percent which was then one of the highest among that year‘s batch of examinees.

A natural leader since his youth, Sonny Belmonte was elected president of the Manila Jaycees in 1971 and the Philippine Jaycees in 1973. In the Jaycees World Congress in Amsterdam, Netherlands, he was elected president of the Jaycees International for 1976, besting three frontrunners from Belgium, Australia and Puerto Rico.

Turnaround Expert, Progressive Political Leader

In 1986, Sonny Belmonte was appointed by then President Cory C. Aquino as head of several financially ailing government corporations, which he successfully turned around and made profitable. He served as president of GSIS, Manila Hotel, Philippine Airlines and head of other institutions. His success as a turnaround expert would prepare him well for public service in politics as legislator and as mayor.

As mayor of Quezon City, Sonny Belmonte or ―SB‖ upheld prudent fiscal management, reforms, improved the business environment, modernized infrastructures and pushed socio-economic development in the city with the largest population in the whole country.

Today one of the highest-ranking political leaders of the Philippines due to his being a decisive leader of the House of Representatives with 286 legislators, Speaker Sonny Belmonte at 75 years old is in the forefront of efforts to strengthen Philippine political democracy, good governance and a more globally-competitive free enterprise economy.

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E. TALKING POINTS

1. What are your legislative initiatives in strengthening the nation‘s economy as the country prepares for the ASEAN Economic Integration of 2015?

 Speaker Belmonte has proposed amending the constitution, specifically the provisions affecting the country’s economy. In March 2014, under the Speaker‘s initiative, the House passed a resolution calling for an amendment of the 1987 Charter by adding the phrase ―unless otherwise provided by law‖ to the Constitution‘s articles concerning the national economy and patrimony; education, science, technology, arts, culture and sports; and general provisionsi. Albeit this would not automatically remove the foreign ownership and participation limits as stipulated in the Charter, Congress would nevertheless now have the power to lift such restrictions in an attempt to boost foreign investments. President B. S. Aquino III, the Speaker‘s ally, has reiterated his position that he is against Charter Changeii.

 The Representative from Quezon City‘s 4th Congressional District has also pushed for the passage of the Philippine Fair Competition Act which ―aims to encourage fair and free economic competition by prohibiting the abuse of market dominant positions and the excessive concentration of economic power by regulating improper concerted acts and unfair business practices, thereby stimulating creative business activities, protecting consumers and promoting the balanced development of the national economy‖iii.

 During the 15th Congress, Speaker Belmonte led the House in enacting laws aimed at attracting investments, promote transparency, and raise revenues. These include the Sin Tax Reform Act, Data Privacy Act, People’s Survival Fund, Anti-Terrorist Financing Act and amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Activ.

2. How will your proposed ―Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act‖ affect regional security in Southeast Asia?

 Together with House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II, Speaker Belmonte authored House Bill 4153, known as ―Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act” during the 15th Congress. The bill aims to ―expand and amend R.A. No. 9522 by establishing sea lanes in the Philippine archipelagic waters, prescribing the rights and obligations of foreign ships and aircraft exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes and passage through the established archipelagic sea lanes and providing for the associated measures therein‖.

 The House passed the bill on 24 January 2012 and was transmitted to the Senate two days thereafter.

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 During the 16th Congress, Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV authored a similar measure and is currently pending in the upper chamber‘s Foreign Relations Committee.

3. Can the House enact the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law before 2015? How will you ensure that the law can withstand judicial scrutiny?

 The Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will be the charter of the future Bangsamoro political entity that would replace the current Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

 Founded upon the GPH-MILF Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the BBL was drafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) which is composed of representatives from the GPH and MILF. The BTC approved the draft BBL in April 2014 and was scheduled to be transmitted by Malacanang to Congress on 5 May 2014 or shortly before the latter‘s session adjourns.

 The Palace, however, failed to meet its own deadline which caused some concerns among the MILF as the GPH might water-down the original draft of the BBLv.

 After a thorough review, Malacanang has announced that the proposed BBL would be submitted in July as both chambers reconvene for the 2nd Regular Session of the 16th Congressvi.

 Certain groups, like the Philippine Constitutional Association (PHILCONSA), have voiced their concerns regarding the constitutionality of the CAB which is the basis of the BBLvii.

4. What are the prospects of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill being passed before the term of present administration ends?

 In the medium term Philippine development plan for 2011-2016, The Aquino administration has noted that, ―there is no established legal route for citizens to petition to obtain government records‖viii. Thus, the ―proposed Freedom of Information Act is an important step towards addressing this problem‖ix.

 However, with only two years remaining in the President‘s term, the FOI Bill has yet to pass Congress.  In March 2014, the Senate passed the FOI Bill. The House of Representatives, however, has yet to act on the matter.

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 Although said in jest, Speaker Belmonte has vowed to pass the much-awaited piece of legislation by saying: "Bitayin ninyo ako kung matapos ito at hindi pa nakakapasa" x.

5. How can you restore the image of the House of Representatives in the aftermath of the Pork Barrel Fund Scam?

 Although the focus of the scam is on the Senate, several members of the lower house have been implicated in the corruption scandal, including: Pampanga Rep. Oscar Rodriguez, Cebu Rep. Gerald Gullas, Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla, Cebu City Rep. Raul Del Mar, Compostela Valley Rep. Rommel Amatong, Laguna Rep. Joaquin Chipeco Jr., Lanao Del Norte Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo, Abono party-list Rep. Conrado Estrella III, Bukidnon Rep. Florencio Flores, Masbate Rep. Scott Davies Lanete, An Waray Rep. Neil Benedict Montejo, La Union Rep. Victor Ortega, Abante Mindanao Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr., Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, and Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungabxi.

 ―We cannot‖, Speaker Belmonte said in his privilege speech as the chamber adjourned its first regular session under the 16th Congress, ―speak away nor remain silent on the unremitting assaults to the integrity of this House and of its members, often without basis, in the wake of the PDAF controversy‖xii.

i Salaverria, Leila B. Philippine Daily Inquirer. March 4, 2014. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/582115/charter-change- bill-takes-off-in-house (accessed July 7, 2014). ii Sabillo, Krisitine. Philippine Daily Inquirer. February 20, 2014. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/579377/palace- aquino-not-buying-belmontes-view-on-charter-change (accessed July 8, 2014) iii Romero, Paulo. The Philippine Star. October 15, 2013. http://www.philstar.com/business/2013/10/15/1245265 /belmonte-pushes-passage-fair-competition-act (accessed July 7, 2014) iv Romero, Paulo. The Philippine Star. February 27, 2014. http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/02/27/913620 /belmonte-reiterates-need-charter-amendments (accessed July 8, 2014) v Tan, Kimberly Jane. GMA News. June 2, 2014. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/363768/ news/nation/bangsamoro-law-not-being-watered-down-palace-assures-milf (accessed July 8, 2014) vi Tan, Kimberly Jane. GMA News. June 10, 2014. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/365008/news/nation /bangsamoro-basic-law-to-be-submitted-to-congress-in-july (accessed July 8, 2014) vii Arcangel, Xianne. GMA News. May 13, 2014. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/360813/news/nation/ enacting-bangsamoro-basic-law-may-cause-chaos-in-mindanao-philconsa (accessed July 8, 2014) viii National Economic and Development Authority. "Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016." 2012. http://www.neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/CHAPTER-7.pdf (accessed July 8, 2014). ix Ibid x Bacani, Louis. The Philippine Star. March 11, 2014. http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/03/11/1299695/ belmonte-hang-me-if-house-fails-pass-foi (accessed July 8, 2014). xi Cayabyab, Marc Jayson. Philippine Daily Inquirer. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/610730/house-cant-stay-quiet-on- pork-barrel-scam-belmonte (accessed July 8, 2014) xii Ibid

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