After ousting JDV, Kampi leaders want attrition revamp at House

MANILA, Philippines – The Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) is pushing for an “attrition revamp” at the House of Representatives to effect overdue reforms aimed at uplifting the image of the House.

Kampi president, Camarines Rep. Luis Villafuerte told reporters during the Kapihan sa Sulo Hotel forum in Quezon City that he already had an initial meeting with newly-installed Speaker Prospero Nograles where he conveyed the proposal to use what he called an “attrition system” in effecting the removal of committee chairmen who are not performing.

“We do not want a drastic revamp, we want an attrition system to achieve the reform in the House,” he said.

Villafuerte said they are giving current chairmen of House committees and the new Speaker of the House the “benefit of the doubt” to prove that they can implement much needed reforms.

He clarified, however, that the move to oust former Speaker Jose de Venecia was not Kampi’s initiative but that of other party members, including those from Lakas-CMD. “We want to make the House a significant segment of government,” Villafuerte said, adding that they are expecting that within two weeks, the new house leadership will lay down its legislative agenda for the 14th Congress.

Among the reforms the Kampi head is advocating is for a re-examination of the allocation and distribution of funds to make the chamber a more efficient institution.

The reported malpractice in the distribution of funds is the key concern of several lawmakers, Villafuerte said. Aside from this, he is also pushing for the development and use of the untapped skills of experts employed by the House.

“We want to create a think-tank that will draw up policy directions to improve the House’s image and make it a more effective and independent branch of government,” Villafuerte said.