ShareThisQUEZON CITY — As Congress adjourns for the holidays, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. lauded his colleagues at the House of Representatives for a “sterling” attendance record with 78 percent average daily attendance during plenary sessions.
“I extend my sincerest gratitude to the distinguished men and women who comprise this Chamber. Our House today has the largest membership since the installation of the new Congress in 1987. This presents an opportunity unique and unparalleled in recent history,” said Belmonte.
At present, there are 283 congressmen including the three party-list representatives who swore in last Tuesday — Reps. Catalina Bagasina (Association of Laborers and Employees), Isidro Lico (Adhikain Tinataguyod ng Kooperatiba), and Solaiman Pangandaman (Kasosyo, Producers, Consumers Exchange Association Inc.).
Based on House records, 43 congressmen including Speaker Belmonte had perfect attendance or completed 45 session days.
The other congressmen with perfect attendance include: Reps. Pedro Acharon Jr. (South Cotabato), Romeo Acop (Antipolo City), Emmeline Aglipay (DIWA party-list), Rodolfo Albano Jr. (Isabela), Tomas Apacible (Batangas), Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo (Camarines Sur), Amado Bagatsing (Manila), Jorge John Banal Jr. (Quezon City), Elpidio Barzaga Jr. (Cavite), Leopoldo Bataoil (Pangasinan),
Imelda Calixto-Rubiano (Pasay City), Winston Castelo (Quezon City), Jane Castro (Capiz), Enrique Cojuangco (Tarlac), Maximo Dalog (Mountain Province), Raul Daza (Northern Samar), Rachel Marguerite del Mar (Cebu City), Salvador Escudero III (Sorsogon), Ben Evardone (Eastern Samar), Erico Basilio Fabian (Zamboanga City), Rodolfo Farinas (Ilocos Norte), Salvio Fortuno (Camarines Sur), Albert Raymund Garcia (Bataan), Roilo Golez (Paranaque City), Agapito Guanlao (BUTIL party-list), Nur Jaafar (Tawi-tawi), David Kho (Senior Citizen party-list), Edcel Lagman (Albay), Eleandro Jesus Madrona (Romblon), Neil Montejo and Florencio “Bem” Noel (An Waray party-list), Angelo Palmones (Agham party-list), Rene Relampagos (Bohol), Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro), Herminia Roman (Bataan), Jesus Sacdalan (North Cotabato), Raden Sakaluran (Sultan Kudarat), Cesar Sarmiento (Catanduanes), Mel Senen Sarmiento (Western Samar), Marcelino Teodoro (Marikina), Niel Tupas Jr. (Iloilo), and Jose Ma. Zubiri III (Bukidnon).
“Each of us has been ushered into this Chamber by our constituency not only hopeful but expectant of change. Our performance since July evinces our collective will to fulfill our people’s high expectations,” the Speaker said.
To date, Belmonte said, the House received more than 4,600 measures consisting of more than 3,800 bills and close to 800 resolutions.
Of this number, the Lower Chamber have approved 20 bills on third reading and another five bills of national significance on second reading.