COA hails productive House

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Audit (COA) lauded the House of Representatives for its “outstanding accomplishments” last year, including its participation in the impeachment of former chief justice Renato Corona.

In a 2011 report released yesterday, COA said the House headed by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. should be credited for its legislative work.

The COA report said the House’s outstanding accomplishments last year included the filing of 1,647 bills, 1,170 resolutions and the enactment into law of 173 legislative measures, 87 of which were for national application and 86 for local application.

But apart from its legislative achievements, COA said, the 15th Congress’ other significant events and activities are also worth mentioning.

The COA report credited the House for voting to transmit the 56-page Articles of Impeachment against Corona on Dec. 12, 2011.

Belmonte was specifically cited for spearheading and mobilizing the lawmakers in extending immediate cash donations and relief goods for the victims of typhoon “Sendong” that hit Mindanao the same month.

State auditors said the House also held the opening of the 2nd regular session of the 15th Congress and the State of the Nation Address of the President on July 25, 2011 and hosted parliamentary visits and conferences and meetings during the year.

The COA report further lauded the House for organizing and sponsoring several special activities in cooperation with other partners in government like a forum on Cybercrime on Feb. 9, 2011; a forum on the Program of Involvement of Male Legislators in Eliminating Violence Against Women (VAW) held on March 7, 2011; a roundtable discussion on Optional Protocol on International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights held on May 31, 2011; and a forum on World Development Report 2011 held on Oct. 10, 2011.

State auditors said the House also conducted budget deliberations of different agencies and conducted committee hearings and debates focusing on various pressing national issues, such as poverty, education, money laundering, human rights violations, child abuse, among others, in 2011.