House records show Zubiri most prolific lawmaker, Cayetano least productive

Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri was the most prolific among the five congressmen running for the Senate in the May 14 elections, and Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano was the least productive, according to official records obtained by The STAR.

The records showed that Cayetano "authored none and co-authored none" of the 37 laws that Congress had passed since July 2004, as compared to the four other lawmakers.

Zubiri sponsored two bills passed into law, among them Republic Act 9341, or the Rental Reform Act of 2005, and RA 936, the Biofuels Act of 2006.

The pro-administration’s Unity Ticket candidate is also credited with co-authoring seven other bills that were eventually signed into law by President Arroyo.

Representatives Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III of Tarlac and Prospero Pichay of Surigao del Sur each co-sponsored four bills that have been passed into law.

House Minority Leader Francis Escudero authored none but co-authored three of the laws that have consequently been enacted.

Aquino and Escudero joined a multitude of lawmakers in resetting the barangay elections (RA 9340), repealing the death penalty law (RA 9346) and helped pass the Juvenile Justice System (RA 9344) Bill of Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara.

Pichay co-authored four, the last being a local measure. So did Aquino, who helped pass RA 9354 sponsored by his provincemate, Tarlac Rep. Gilbert Teodoro, who withdrew his senatorial bid.

Escudero had the most number of House bills authored, with 77 measures, 51 of which remain pending, 18 have been substituted by several related bills, while eight have been transmitted to the Senate for approval.

Next was Pichay with 66 bills filed in the 13th Congress; 40 of which are still under deliberations in the committee level, 13 measures substituted and the remaining 13 others were elevated to the Senate.

Third was Zubiri. Out of 61 bills, two have been signed into law by Mrs. Arroyo – the Rental Reform Act and the Biofuels Act – and eight have been forwarded to the Senate.

Fifteen were substituted with related bills, and the 36 others remain pending.

Cayetano came in fourth. He filed 12 bills; three have been sent to the Senate, five remain pending, while the four others have been substituted with other related measures.

Last was Aquino with eight bills authored, one of which was transmitted to the Senate, while another is on third and final reading in the House. Two bills of his were substituted, while three are undergoing committee deliberation.

All five congressmen will be "graduating" by June 30. They are on their third and last term and can no longer seek reelection.