2 Cebuano reps score perfect attendance

CEBU, Philippines -  Two Cebuano legislators scored a perfect attendance as members of the 15th Congress for the year 2012.

  Cebu City North District Rep. Rachel Marguerite “Cutie” del Mar and Coop-NATCCO Rep. Cresente C. Paez were able to attend 61 session days from January 16, 2012 to December 19, 2012

 The House of Representatives has 285 members and 12 of them are from Cebu.

TUCP Partylist Rep. Raymond Mendoza has the most number of absences with 40.

Rep. Eduardo Gullas (first district) and House Deputy Speaker for the Visayas Pablo Garcia (second district) only had one and two absences, respectively.

Gullas is on his third and last term as congressman while Garcia will be seeking for reelection.

Rep. Luigi Quisumbing (sixth district) and Arturo Radaza (lone district of Lapu-Lapu City) recorded three and four absences, respectively.

Rep. Pablo John Garcia (third district) missed 17 sessions; Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI (fifth district) had 16 absences; ANAD Partylist Rep. Pastor “Jun” Alcover recorded 15 absences while Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (fourth district) had 10 absences.

 Cebu South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña, a neophyte lawmaker who is running for mayor of Cebu City, missed nine sessions.

 Del Mar, in an interview with The FREEMAN, said that attending sessions is important considering that they need to closely monitor proposed legislations concerning Cebu.

Section 70 of the House rules states that every Member shall be present in all sessions of the House unless prevented from doing so by sickness or other unavoidable circumstances duly reported to the House through the Secretary General.

Members who are out on official mission as approved by the House Speaker or those who are attending meetings of the Commission on Appointments, House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal, and bicameral conference, are also considered present, under House rules.  (FREEMAN)