132 House members post perfect attendance

Manila, Philippines - Nearly half of the 285 members of the House of Representatives have chalked up perfect attendance in the first regular session of the 15th Congress, records show.

Records from House secretary-general Marilyn Barua-Yap show that 132 lawmakers, including former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, registered perfect attendance in the 73 session days of the chamber.

Among the lawmakers who have perfect attendance were Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Deputy Speakers Lorenzo Tañada and Jesus Crispin Remulla, Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales, Minority Leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, and Reps. Rolando Andaya Jr. (Camarines Sur), Juan Edgardo Angara (Aurora), Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo (Camarines Sur), Giorgidi Aggabao (Isabela), Amado Bagatsing (Manila), Elpidio Barzaga (Cavite), Leopoldo Bataoil (Pangasinan), Walden Bello (Akbayan), Anna York Bondoc (Pampanga), Alfredo Benitez (Negros Occidental), Marc Douglas Cagas (Davao del Sur), Teodoro Casiño (Bayan Muna party-list), Ben Evardone (Eastern Samar), Roilo Golez (Parañaque), Magtanggol Gunigundo (Valenzuela City), Teodorico Haresco (Ang Kasangga sa Kaunlaran party-list), Josephine Veronique Noel (Malabon), Florencio Noel (An Waray party-list), Milagros Magsaysay (Zambales), Karlo Nograles (Davao City), Loreto Leo Ocampos (Misamis Occidental), Angelo Palmones (Agham party-list), Juan “Jack” Ponce Enrile Jr. (Cagayan), Roberto Puno (Antipolo), Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro), Peter Unabia (Misamis Oriental), Mark Villar (Las Piñas), and Arthur Yap (Bohol).

Laguna Rep. Ma. Evita Arago and Agusan del Norte Rep. Angelica Amante-Matba, meanwhile, had explained in separate statements that they went on maternity leave to explain their absences. They said the Office of the House Secretary-General had been duly informed of their maternity leaves.

Belmonte earlier said the performance of the chamber speaks for itself.

“Despite being the biggest in terms of membership, we continue to register the most robust plenary attendance per session day - which, based on official data, averages 94.25 percent of our membership,” Belmonte said.

He said the record, unparalleled in the history of the chamber, was complemented by the frequent meetings of committees or a total of 844 public hearings in 73 session days.

“The hard work of our members has made it possible for us to process - at both the committee and plenary levels - a total of 1,658 measures, or an average of 23 measures per session day,” Belmonte said.

He said 10 months after the 15th Congress opened, the House has approved on third reading 113 national bills and 147 local bills, and adopted 121 regular and 717 resolutions on inquiries in aid of legislation.

“It is therefore no wonder that this Chamber has once more gained the respect it rightfully deserves. Survey after survey shows the rising public trust and approval on this institution and on its membership, a feat that has eluded our predecessors. As of the last survey, our public approval is at an all-time high,” he said.