Congressional Record

15th CONGRESS, SECOND REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Vol. 2 CALL TO ORDER At 4:00 p.m., Deputy Speaker Arnulfo P. Fuentebella called the session to order. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The session is called to order. NATIONAL ANTHEM THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Please rise for the singing of the National Anthem. Everybody rose to sing the Philippine National Anthem. SUSPENSION OF SESSION THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Please remain standing for the Invocation to be led by the Hon. Evelyn P. Mellana of the Second District of Agusan del Sur. Everybody remained standing for the Invocation. INVOCATION REP. MELLANA. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?Psalm 11:3. Let us all unite and pray for our nation. High and mighty, King of kings and God of all nations, let not our foundations for social order, peace and justice be shaken. Through Your loving and protective guidance, help us strengthen and maintain these foundations as we carry out righteous deeds for our country and our fellowmen. Leader of all leaders, we offer to You the labors of this day. Thank You for another opportunity to lead Your people and to participate in the formation of our nation through the legislative process. May todays assembly yield fruitful and productive results for the advancement of the welfare of the Filipinos. May we carry out our roles as legislators and as integral parts of the system of checks and balances with prudence, fortitude, integrity, due diligence, faithfulness, justice and dedication. Please free us all from moral arrogance and ignorance. Shower us and our respective constituencies with temporal blessings and spiritual gifts. As the Senate convenes as an impeachment court, grant the Senator-judges the gifts of wisdom, equity and temperance. May the proceedings follow due process; may their decisions be free from bias and outside pressures; may their conclusions uphold the rule of law; may the wheels of justice turn smoothly and promptly; and may the resolution REP. ORTEGA (F.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we suspend the session for a few minutes. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The session is suspended. It was 4:04 p.m. RESUMPTION OF SESSION At 4:31 p.m., the session was resumed. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The session is resumed. The Sr. Dep. Majority Leader is recognized. APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we approve Journal No. 33 of January 18, 2012, consisting of five pages. I so move, Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection, comment or amendment to the proposed approval of the Journal? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we proceed to the Reference of Business. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. Tuesday, January 24, 2012 No. 34 of this trial result in our oneness as a nation and the start of governance that is more open to our people. Lead us into a fair and impartial trial, because only then can we attain genuine victory for the Filipino people with a stronger, more mature democracy and renewed trust in our system of checks and balances. In these tempestuous times for our country, may we find solace in Your promise that You will never leave nor forsake us. Take us under Your most gracious and nurturing care. Please hear our humble prayers. Amen. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Floor Leader has the floor.

2 The Secretary General will please read the Reference of Business. REFERENCE OF BUSINESS The Secretary General read the following House Bills and Resolutions on First Reading and Committee Reports, and the Deputy Speaker made the corresponding references: BILLS ON FIRST READING House Bill No. 5686, entitled: AN ACT PENALIZING INDIVIDUALS WHO SELLS, GIVES OR IN ANY WAY SHARES ANY TYPE OF FIREWORKS OR FIRECRACKERS TO MINOR CHILDREN 15 YEARS OLD AND BELOW By Representative Mercado-Revilla TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ORDER AND SAFETY AND THE COMMITTEE ON WELFARE OF CHILDREN House Bill No. 5687, entitled: AN ACT CREATING THE AKLAN AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES By Representative Haresco TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ENTERPRISES AND PRIVATIZATION House Bill No. 5688, entitled: AN ACT INCREASING THE ADDITIONAL AD VALOREM TAX ON IDLE LANDS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 236 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE By Representative Mercado (R.) TO THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS House Bill No. 5690, entitled: AN ACT SEPARATING THE HALIAP NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANNEX IN BARANGAY CAMANDAG, MUNICIPALITY OF ASIPULO, PROVINCE OF IFUGAO FROM HALIAP NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS NATCAK NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR By Representative Baguilat TO THE COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION AND CULTURE House Bill No. 5691, entitled: AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT 9688 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE IFUGAO SECOND DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE IN THE PROVINCE OF IFUGAO AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR By Representative Baguilat TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 House Bill No. 5692, entitled: AN ACT ADOPTING THE IFUGAO RICE TERRACES REHABILITATION AND PRESERVATION PLAN, CREATING THE ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINERY FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND ITS SECRETARIAT, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES By Representative Baguilat TO THE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES House Bill No. 5693, entitled: AN ACT TO PROMOTE COMPETITIVENESS AND FAIR COMPETITION IN THE PHILIPPINE MOTOR VEHICLE INDUSTRY THROUGH THE RATIONALIZATION OF THE GRANTING OF FISCAL INCENTIVES By Representative Romualdo TO THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND INDUSTRY House Bill No. 5694, entitled: AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CENTRALIZATION OF FILING OF STATEMENT OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND NET WORTH (SALN) OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND ITS MANDATORY DISCLOSURE TO PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 8 (A) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6713 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES By Representative Fortuno TO THE COMMITTEE ON REVISION OF LAWS House Bill No. 5695, entitled: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BARANGAY SANTIAGO, GINGOOG CITY, MISAMIS ORIENTAL TO BE KNOWN AS THE PUNDASAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR By Representative Unabia TO THE COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION AND CULTURE House Bill No. 5696, entitled: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BARANGAY ANAKAN, GINGOOG CITY, MISAMIS ORIENTAL TO BE KNOWN AS ANAKAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR By Representative Unabia TO THE COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION AND CULTURE House Bill No. 5697, entitled: AN ACT DECLARING EVERY FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY OF EACH YEAR AS WORLD INTERFAITH HARMONY WEEK AND MANDATING THE OBSERVANCE OF THE

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 SAID EVENT BY THE DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES By Representative Climaco TO THE COMMITTEE ON REVISION OF LAWS RESOLUTIONS House Resolution No. 2043, entitled: A RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING AND COMMENDING FATHER AND SON LARRY AND HIRRYAN MENDIOLA FOR PUTTING THE PHILIPPINES ON WORLD MAP BY FINISHING THIRD IN THE RAINFOREST CHALLENGE (RFC) OF MALAYSIA By Representative Castelo TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES House Resolution No. 2044, entitled: A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON GOOD GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ANENT THE CAUSES OF REPORTED IRREGULAR AND QUESTIONABLE PROCUREMENTS AND DISBURSEMENTS BY THE SUPREME COURT UPON ITS LOAN FROM WORLD BANK, AS UNCOVERED BY THE LATTER, AND TO RECOMMEND APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION By Representative Evardone TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES House Resolution No. 2047, entitled: RESOLUTION COMMENDING SENATOR MIRIAM DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO FOR BEING OVERWHELMINGLY ELECTED JUDGE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC) By Representative Haresco TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES House Resolution No. 2049, entitled: RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON GOOD GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES INVOLVING THE JUDICIAL REFORM SUPPORT PROJECT FUNDED BY THE WORLD BANK AND IMPLEMENTED BY THE SUPREME COURT OF THE PHILIPPINES By Representatives Casio and Colmenares TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES House Resolution No. 2050, entitled: A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION ON IMPORTED CHICKEN MEAT FOUND CONTAMINATED WITH SALMONELLA By Representative Palmones TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES

3 House Resolution No. 2051, entitled: RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID TO LEGISLATION, AS TO THE CAUSES OF SEVERE FLOODING AND DEATHS AT THE HEIGHT OF TYPHOON SENDONG By Representatives Emano, Benaldo and Unabia TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES ADDITIONAL COAUTHORS Rep. Isidro T. Ungab for House Bills No. 125 and 5380; Rep. Ma. Amelita A. Calimbas-Villarosa for House Bill No. 224; Rep. Maria Isabelle Beng G. Climaco for House Bills No. 590, 1067, 4162, 4243, 4276 and 4920; Rep. Ma. Victoria R. Sy-Alvarado for House Bill No. 2127; Rep. Josephine Veronique R. Lacson-Noel for House Bill No. 3877; Rep. Pedro M. Pancho for House Bill No. 4395; Reps. Sharon S. Garin and Janette L. Garin for House Bill No. 5368; Rep. Antonio F. Lagdameo Jr. for House Bill No. 5484; Rep. Eduardo R. Gullas for House Bill No. 5578; Rep. Arnel M. Cerafica for House Bills No. 5589 and 5590; and Rep. Ma. Theresa B. Bonoan-David for House Bill No. 5625. COMMITTEE REPORTS Report by the Committee on Natural Resources (Committee Report No. 1691), re H. R. No. 73, entitled: RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR A STOP TO THE ALARMING ENCROACHMENT OF MINING COMPANIES INTO THE REMAINING FRAGILE HABITAT OF THE ENDANGERED PHILIPPINE EAGLE, OUR NATIONAL BIRD recommending its adoption with amendment Sponsors: Representatives Matugas, Casio and Colmenares TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES Report by the Committee on Natural Resources (Committee Report No. 1692), re H. R. No. 1698, entitled: RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATIVES AND CALLING FOR INCREASED STATE INVOLVEMENT TO CONSERVE THE CRITICALLY-ENDANGERED PHILIPPINE CROCODILE recommending its adoption with amendments Sponsors: Representatives Matugas and Casio TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES Report by the Committee on Justice and the Committee on Appropriations (Committee Report No. 1693), re H. No. 5714, entitled: AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE WITNESS PROTECTION, SECURITY AND BENEFIT PROGRAM, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE

4 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6981 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE WITNESS PROTECTION, SECURITY AND BENEFIT ACT AND PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FUNDS THEREFOR recommending its approval in substitution of House Bill Nos. 15, 608, 629 and 1979 Sponsors: Representatives Tupas, Abaya, Golez (R.), Angara, Datumanong, Rodriguez (R.) and Rodriguez (M.) TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES Report by the Committee on Justice and the Committee on Appropriations (Committee Report No. 1694), re H. No. 5715, entitled: AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE PROTECTION, SECURITY AND BENEFITS OF WHISTLEBLOWERS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES recommending its approval in substitution of House Bill Nos. 132, 452, 1832, 2110, 2471, 2675 and 2922 Sponsors: Representatives Tupas, Abaya, Casio, Colmenares, Angara, Teodoro, Rodriguez (R.), Rodriguez (M.), Arenas, Quisumbing and Escudero TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Sr. Dep. Majority Leader is recognized. REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, allow us to acknowledge the presence of our guests in the gallery. We have the students and faculty of ABE International College, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. They are the guests of Deputy Speaker Pablo P. Garcia. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Please rise. Welcome to the House of Representatives. (Applause) REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, we also have with us this afternoon the UST medical doctors practicing in the United States of America. They are the guests of the honorable Speaker, Hon. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. As head of the delegation, we have Dr. Pura Garin-Vargas, with the following: Dr. Pablo C. de Ungria, Dr. Estelita Gensoli de Ungria, Dr. Andres Vargas, Dr. Baltazar Dinulos, Dr. Ligorio Calaycay, Dr. Violeta Poblacion-Pineda, Caridad IcasianoSantos, Dr. Ramon Santos, Dr. Aisa Guillermo-Santos. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Please rise. REP. GARIN (J.). Dr. Angelina Puzon-Jaurigue, Dr. Daniel Santos, Dr. Florliza Juan Garcia, Dr. Zenaida Javier Theopistos, Cesar Javier, Josefina Javier, Fe del Rosario, Fely Santos, Laura Bello, and Andrew Vargas. They are the guests from the University of Santo Tomas working in the United States of America and doing philanthropic work in the Philippines. (Applause) THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Welcome to the House of Representatives! (Applause) The Gentleman from Albay stood earlier. What is the pleasure of the Gentleman from Albay?

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 REP. LAGMAN. Mr. Speaker, may I be allowed to deliver a speech on a question of personal and collective privilege? THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Gentleman will please state the nature of his personal and collective privilege. REP. LAGMAN. It would be to protect my integrity and discuss salient information regarding the same. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Gentleman has 10 minutes. Please proceed. QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE OF REP. LAGMAN REP. LAGMAN. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues: At 10:43 in the evening of Thursday, January 4, 2012, I received a text message from a very reliable source which recounted the A-1 information relayed by one in the small group of about four who met that night in former President Gloria MacapagalArroyos hospital suite at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center. The text message reads in full, and I quote: Kakatapos lang ng meeting with GMA. Suarez is it. Hes got the numbers. Ten withdrew from Edcel. A manifesto of support will be signed tomorrow to be formalized in a Minority caucus on the 15th, with Edcel manifesting on the floor on the 16th that he is turning over the power to Suarez. The manifesto supersedes Edcels reso. This text message confirms an earlier report that former President Arroyo was meeting with a few select opposition members closely allied with her. It also refutes denials that the former President was not in the conclave. The message spills the plot and I quote again: Katatapos lang ng meeting with GMA. Suarez is it. Other than confirming the role of former President Arroyo in the enterprise to replace me, the message is a presumptuous propaganda. First, while it claims that Rep. Danilo E. Suarez as early as January 4, 2012 had the numbers the fact is, as of last Wednesday, January 18, 2012 or two full weeks later, he did not have the uncontestable absolute majority of the Minority Members. Second, the following day, January 5, 2012, the group of Rep. Suarez failed to secure a signed manifesto of support, contrary to the assertion in the text message. Third, during the Minoritys regular lunch meeting on January 16, 2012, the group of Rep. Suarez presented an alleged manifesto which showed that only five, not 10, of the 15 Minority Members who signed the resolution retaining me as the Minority Leader also signed for Rep. Suarez. As of said date, 10 colleagues who signed in December 2011 the resolution maintaining me as Minority Leader have remained steadfast. Fourth, in the caucus hosted by Rep. Suarez on January 15, 2012 at the Manila Golf and Country Club, only six to eight Minority Members attended. Moreover, it was unabashedly presumed that I would relinquish the Minority leadership at the mere say-so that the Suarez camp had the numbers.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 But what is important to underscore is that the text message never mentioned a term-sharing agreement for the Minority leadership, which bogus arrangement was pursued to deodorize the plot to oust me. The term sharing being claimed by the Suarez camp is baseless and non-existent. The agreement was limited to a splitting of the term of the Speaker had I won as then Lakas-Kampi candidate. Representative Suarez offered the term-sharing agreement as a condition for withdrawing his bid to contest my candidacy for Speaker within the then Lakas-Kampi group. We were fighting for the Speakership. To forge a splitting agreement on the Minority leadership would have been foolhardy and would have sent defeatist signals. Remember, dear colleagues, that this was in early June 2010, when LakasKampi still held the numerical superiority. The meeting at Club Filipino to formalize the choice of then Lakas-Kampi candidate for Speaker was covered by tri-media. The news accounts on the event unmistakably document that the splitting of term was limited to the Speakership. Inquirer.net posted on June 4, 2010 a report entitled Lakas-Kampi leaders agree to term-sharing for Speakership. The news report stated: Albay Representative Edcel Lagman and Quezon Representative Danilo Suarez have agreed to a term-sharing scheme if the administration party Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats would bag the speakership in the House of Representatives. The report further stated: Emerging from the meeting of Lakas-Kampi congressmen Friday, Suarez said the party agreed to field Lagman for the top post of the chamber in the 15th Congress x x x If Lagman gets the speakership, he will serve for the first 18 months, then Suarez will sit in the second half of the term. Similarly, Manila Standard Today in a news account entitled Lakas-Kampi taps Lagman in speakership race reported: The administration Lakas-Kampi CMD party has agreed to a term-sharing formula between Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez if it bags the speakership in the House of Representatives. The report further recounted: Lagman said he agreed to the term-sharing proposal to avoid division within the ranks of the ruling party. They made the proposal and I accepted it and I will take the first 18 months, said Lagman, adding that he expected to win a majority. Suarez said a coalition with other parties was in the works to get some 20 party-list lawmakers to their side. No mention whatsoever was made about an alleged termsharing for the Minority leadership. Distinguished colleagues, I am not a stranger to termsharing agreements. Before I assumed the chairmanship of

5 the powerful Committee on Appropriations, Speaker Jose De Venecia brokered a term-sharing agreement between me and Representative Junie Cua. When the time came, I voluntarily relinquished the chairmanship to Representative Cua despite the fact that Speaker De Venecia had been replaced by then Speaker Nograles, who was not privy to the arrangement. I always honor a commitment or agreement. But I should not be forced to comply with an imagined or contrived arrangement. The repeated incantation of the Suarez camp about a term-sharing agreement has become a repulsive refrain even as its creeping signature campaign demeans Minority members who are relentlessly pressured to renege on their commitment and abandon their support for me. Under the circumstances, the only principled action to take is to resign as Minority Leader so that former President Arroyos anointed one can take over despite his failure to obtain an incontestable absolute majority of the Minority Members. Those who affixed dual signatures for me and for Representative Suarez cancelled out their preferences and nullified their contradictory choices. By parity of reasoning, the rule provided for in the Omnibus Election Code is instructive and applicable. It provides that: Where there are two or more candidates voted for in an office for which the law authorizes the election of only one, the vote shall not be counted in favor of any of them. Moreover, two signatories to the Suarez manifesto have already left Lakas and joined the Nacionalista Party, a member of the Majority coalition. Consequently, they are disqualified from participating in Minority decisions unless they are able to show, which they failed to do, concrete proof that they have been authorized by the leadership of the Nacionalista Party to remain with the opposition. What the Suarez manifesto achieved was to indelibly show the hand of the former President. Her two sons signed the manifesto despite earlier protestations that the Arroyos would remain neutral. All of the former Arroyo appointees now in the Minority, except for two, sided with Representative Suarez. In order to foreclose further skirmishes within the ranks of the small Minority and render my association with some colleagues irreparably damaged, I resign irrevocably as Minority Leader. I have also communicated with Senator Bong Revilla, Jr., President of Lakas-CMD, my resignation as Chairman and member of Lakas-CMD and Vice President of the Centrist Democrat International, a worldwide organization of Christian and Muslim parties, of which LakasCMD is a member. Mr. Speaker, honorable colleagues, I cannot continue to serve and lead a political aggrupation whose core ignores independent, committed, competent and responsible leadership. I cannot respect a group that demeans colleagues by relentlessly pressuring them to withdraw their signatures in a resolution retaining me as Minority Leader. I cannot continue to associate politically with some opposition members who are closely linked and beholden to the former President so much so that they succumb to the importuning of a patron.

6 I cannot allow the Minority to lose its credibility and independence by becoming a mere mouthpiece of the former President. When I interposed the petition challenging the constitutionality of the Philippine Truth Commission, I did not file it for former President Arroyo and her officials. I did not even consult her nor ask the help of her lawyers. She learned about it when it was already filed and her office even had to ask for a copy of the petition. I filed the petition on my own to confront the Aquino administration for committing an affront against the Constitution, more particularly the equal protection clause. I was sustained by the Supreme Court. Likewise, when I questioned the constitutionality of the cancellation of the ARMM elections and the granting of authority to President Aquino to appoint OICs, as well as when I challenged the validity of the GOCC Governance Act for derogating the security of tenure of government personnel and arrogating in favor of a super administrative body the powers of the constitutionally independent Civil Service Commission, I did these again without consulting the former President. I wanted to deliver the strong message to the Aquino administration to uphold at all times the supremacy of the Constitution and the ascendancy of the rule of law. My only respectable alternative now is to become an independent. I cannot join the Majority party or coalition because I have serious policy differences with the Aquino administration, like my pending petitions before the Supreme Court and my criticism of the blitzkrieg impeachment of the Chief Justice. I cannot forsake my convictions for partisan concessions. I wish to thank the House leadership for recognizing the importance of the Minority in a democratic system, particularly in a deliberative assembly. I salute the Members of the opposition who have remained steadfast in supporting my leadership and refusing to yield to tremendous pressure. I would like to thank the congressional media for a fair coverage of Minority concerns, except that a very few during the Minority intramurals were writing news accounts as if they were opinion columns. I will continue to fiscalize the Aquino administration and pursue to the hilt my progressive and alternative agenda, including the Reproductive Health Bill. I have been telling the public and media that although the former President and I were both in the opposition, I was never a GMA minion. Now, everybody knows that I am not. I am not the anointed one. I did not seek anointment. I treasure my principles and independence. Thank you so much, distinguished colleagues and Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Floor Leader is recognized. REP. ORTEGA (F.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Hon. Ma. Amelita Girlie A. CalimbasVillarosa for a brief manifestation. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The distinguished Lady from Occidental Mindoro is recognized. REP. CALIMBAS-VILLAROSA. Just a short manifestation, Mr. Speaker.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Please proceed. REP. CALIMBAS-VILLAROSA. In view of the resignation of Minority Leader Edcel C. Lagman as Minority Leader, the Minority is nominating Danilo E. Suarez to be the new Minority Leader to respect the term-sharing agreement agreed upon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is it a manifestation or a motion? REP. CALIMBAS-VILLAROSA. Manifestation, Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Majority Leader, please REP. CALIMBAS-VILLAROSA. Motion na rin. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). please respond. I think we need a motion here to formalize everything. REP. GONZALES (N.) Insofar as recognizing the Minority Leader, now Congressman Suarez, we have no problem with that, Mr. Speaker, but we will await the reorganization of the membership of the Minority in the Committee on Rules because as soon as they organize the membership of the Committee on Rules representing the Minority coalition, of course, the number one in their list will become the Minority Leader. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). So, is it the understanding of the Chair that with the resignation of the distinguished Gentleman from Albay, plus the manifestation made by this Lady from Occidental Mindoro nominating Honorable Suarez as the new Minority Leader REP. GONZALES (N.). That is correct. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). he is now recognized by the Majority for purposes of record? REP. GONZALES (N.). It is not that we are second guessing the Minority members of the House, but may we suggest that they re-organize their membership in the Committee on Rules, so that we can act on it immediately, Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). But we have to act first on the Minority Leaders position. REP. GONZALES (N.). As the number one Member of the Minority in the Committee on Rules, we can approve the said manifestation of Congresswoman Villarosa by way of a motion, Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). All right. So it is now of record that the new Minority Leader, as manifested by the distinguished Lady from Occidental Mindoro and likewise manifested through a motion of the

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 Majority Leader, the Honorable Suarez is now recognized officially, for record purposes, as the new Minority Leader of the House. REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Sr. Dep. Majority Leader is recognized. REP. GARIN (J.). I move that we recognize the Hon. Danilo Suarez for a manifestation. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The distinguished Gentleman from Quezon is recognized. REP. SUAREZ. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just have a short response to the speech of Congressman Lagman. I had hoped to accept the post of Minority Leader under different and better circumstances. For my part, a gentlemens agreement to the term sharing exists and I merely expected and insisted on its implementation. Clearly, Congressman Lagman and I should agree to disagree regarding how this event played out. Moving on, the Minority bloc will continue its role as a constructive opposition, as exemplified by the excellent work of Congressman Lagman in being a vigilant fiscalizer of the present administration. We hope that Congressman Lagman will accept our continuing invitation for him to remain as part of the Minority bloc. We all know that his rich political experience and legal expertise will be much needed especially in these challenging times. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Floor Leader is recognized. PRIVILEGE HOUR REP. ORTEGA (F.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we open the Privilege Hour. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. The Chair declares a Privilege Hour. REP. ORTEGA (F.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Gentleman from the Party-List Butil, the Hon. Agapito H. Guanlao, for his privilege speech. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Gentleman may now take the floor for the Privilege Hour. PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF REP. GUANLAO REP. GUANLAO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. Today I rise on a matter of personal and collective privilege on an issue that all of us may be equally responsible for, and thus must be afforded our utmost collective concern.

7 On December 16 and 17, 2011, a few days before Christmas, typhoon Sendong, now believed to be the most fatal tropical storm in the last 12 years, crossed the country. It may be superfluous to belabor into exact estimates of the magnitude, damage and effects of typhoon Sendong. Suffice it to say, by now typhoon Sendong confirms that the Philippines is a disaster-prone country and that manmade conditions have also caused its propensity for disasters, simply because its fragile ecological character has reached high levels of degradation and destruction. It is, in fact, sufficient for now to say that the countrys propensity for the occurrence of natural disasters is reinforced by yet another worldwide phenomenon, which is climate change. Mr. Speaker, my dear colleagues, I am certain that by now, all of us are convinced that the climate has changed. We can no longer anticipate that Decembers will bring cool and generally breezy weather. But to me, climate change is the global and cumulative result of mans indiscriminate economic activities on earth; to put it simply, the loss of forest cover due to relentless logging activities, the loss of natural waterfalls as it desertified rivers due to quarrying and mining, and the unabated conversion of land to other uses. While scientists offered the explanations on the natural occurrence of fish kills, there is no denying that most cases are due to overstocking and are thus manmade. And while pollution predisposes the natural disturbance of the lakes and other bodies of water, soil deposits that flow to these marine ecosystems due to soil erosion aggravate their degradation, eventually destroying the habitats and natures life support systems. Here lies the intricate connection of water and land bodies. Mans indiscriminate activities that destroy our environment and natural resources are prompted by the worlds increasing human population, to which our country is not exempt. Al Gore puts it clearly in his Inconvenient Truth, a part of which I would like you to see. (Video presentation) Anyway, I think everybody has already seen this video. It is about land use conversion versus land reclassification policy. Allow me to share to you some data to provide a brief background on the situation of land use conversion in our country. As of 2000, areas devoted to rice production here in our country decreased by 289,000 hectares. This information took into cognizance legal and illegal shifts in land use. By 2005, there were already approved applications for land use conversions totaling to at least 43,141 hectares. Of these approved applications, most were for residential purposes, followed by mixed use with residential purposes and others. I am not really sure if the data I have cited increased or decreased, Mr. Speaker, considering that in 2008, the Department of Agrarian Reform already issued a directive to suspend and impose a moratorium on land use conversions. If this has been sustained, then I guess, no agricultural lands have been converted to other uses since then. Tama po ba ako? I ask the Department of Agrarian Reform, has the suspension resulted in the disapproval of the applications or is it just simply suspended? I asked this because when I filed House Resolution No. 1501, entitled A RESOLUTION URGING THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT TO ISSUE AN ADMINISTRATIVE

8 ORDER IMPOSING A MORATORIUM ON THE APPROVAL OF LAND CONVERSION APPLICATIONS FOR FIVE (5) YEARS COVERING THE PERIODS 2011 TO 2016, I found out that in Pulilan and Bocaue, Bulacan alone, there were cases of reclassification of at least 300 hectares of prime agricultural lands planted to palay to other uses. Mr. Speaker, land use conversion speaks of threats in food and agricultural production, as much as change in land utilization, as in mining and quarrying activities that ultimately change the countrys natural landscape. Incontestably, this has given rise to ecological problems and natural disasters. Let us consider some cases where typhoons also worsen the already deteriorating quality of natural resources. Eroded slopes of topsoil from mountains are deposited to our dams and bodies of waters such as lakes, thus already aggravating cases of fish kill in Taal and Laguna. The flooding of the province of Bulacan and the past typhoons such as Pedring and Quiel and, of course, the landslide in the mining communities of Davao, and lately, by typhoon Sendong these recent past typhoons were not really pointed to cite specific environmental disorders but we are truly faced with the reality of a non-unified management of lakes and other bodies of water. All these could only be natures reactions to no less than our indiscriminate activities that we ourselves condone and allow under a regime of inconsistent and conflicting laws or legislations. Under the present realities, Mr. Speaker, land use conversion becomes synonymous with allowing competing uses for land. The traditional uses of land for purposes of food production and ensuring food security are now pitted against the need for providing housing, and the establishment of industrial and commercial locations and the most recent, allowed mixed use, which is actually a combination of one or more uses. But with the current practice of converting agricultural lands to other uses as well as forests into mining purposes, how are these situations managed or regulated? Mr. Speaker, allow me to indulge into current measures that govern land use change and conversion issues by posing a number of questions: Are they consistent, meaning, are national and local measures in harmony with each other? To me, the policy climate could only be described as confused policy climate. Let us look into the following policy measures: Administrative Order No. 363, issued by the Office of the President in 1997, entitled: Prescribing Guidelines for the Protection of Areas Non-negotiable for Conversion and Monitoring Compliance with Section 20 of the Local Government Code, provides for areas not subject to or nonnegotiable for conversion (Section B, Governing Principles). In the said issuance, agencies such as the Departments of Agriculture, Agrarian Reform, and Environment and Natural Resources, among others, identified the following as non-negotiable for conversion: a) Protected areas designated under the National Integrated Protected Areas (NIPAS), including watershed and recharge areas of aquifers. This is pursued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, pursuant to Republic Act No. 7586 of 1992 or the National Integrated Protected Areas Act;

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 b) Areas identified as environmentally critical as determined by the DENR, pursuant to PD 1586 of 1978, entitled: Establishing an Environmental Impact Statement System Including Other Environmental Management Related Measures and for Other Purposes; Lands classified as highly restricted from conversion may be converted only upon compliance with existing laws, rules and regulations. An additional requirement of the social benefit cost analysis approved by the Department of Agriculture shall also be required before these lands may be approved for conversion. Applications for conversion covering areas under the above shall be subject to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and/or Environmental Compliance Certificate or ECC of the DENR. This only means, Mr. Speaker, that land use conversions and reclassifications also strictly require that the environmental and ecological character of lands being converted to other purposes must be reviewed thoroughly so as not to compromise the fragile state of our ecosystems. There are, however, provisions of the Local Government Code that may run counter with the above-mentioned national measures, such as Section 199 of the Local Government Code defines agricultural land as that devoted principally to the planting of trees, raising of crops, livestock and poultry, dairying, salt making; inland fishing and similar aquacultural activities, and other agricultural activities, and is not classified as mineral, timber, residential, commercial or industrial land. Under Section 20, reclassification of lands, however, a city or a municipality may, through an ordinance passed by the sanggunian after conducting public hearings, authorize the reclassification of agricultural lands. Nandirito po ang problema. The above provisions of the Local Government Code, if pursued alone, will provide a powerful mandate for the local government units to decide on how they intend to utilize the land and water resources within their jurisdictions. But how about land conversion of agricultural lands which, according to the Department of Agrarian Reform is an exclusive power or mandate of the agency? In my opinion, there now exists a dichotomy of the land use conversion and land use reclassification the first being the turf of the DAR and the second reserved solely for the local government units. Are we talking of different bananas here when we speak of reclassification and conversion? In my opinion, land reclassification may not be limited to agricultural lands as local governments under RA 7076 are also empowered to issue mining licenses and permits for small-scale or village-level mining activities and impose upon them its regulatory powers. The utilization of land as mining areas logically precedes the act of land reclassification. Being so, these powers, in my opinion, also impinge upon laws and mandates of the DENR, under RA 7942 that institutes a new system of mineral resources exploration, development, utilization and conservation. Strange bedfellows as it may seem! But who decides over what? An unhappy mix-up is further stirred by moves to urge governors to activate their respective Provincial Mining Regulatory Boards (PMRBs). Also drawing mandate under RA 7076, the boards can issue policies and recommend measures to regulate the operations of small-scale mining in

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 their areas. Under the same law, the board is chaired by the regional director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the DENR, with the governor, a representative from the smallscale miners, town mayor and a non-governmental organization as their members. It may be helpful to enumerate other legislations and issuances that may add up to the confusion: 1) Memorandum Circular No. 54, entitled: Prescribing the guidelines governing Section 20 of RA 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 authorizing cities and municipalities to reclassify agricultural lands into non-agricultural uses. This was issued in 1993 by the Office of the President and it requires local government units to coordinate with the Departments of Agriculture, Trade and Industry, Tourism and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) on matters of land reclassification. 2) Executive Order No. 124 Establishing priorities and procedures in evaluating areas proposed for land conversion in regional agri-industrial centers/regional industrial centers, tourism development areas and sites for socialized housing. This measure issued on September 8, 1993 tasked the local government units through the Local Development Council Technical Secretariat to coordinate with the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), National Housing Authority (NHA), Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) and DENR, for the development of socialized housing. 3) Executive Order No. 72, entitled: Providing for the preparation and implementation of the comprehensive land use plans of local government units. This measure was issued on March 25, 1993 and it created a Provincial Land Use Committee headed by the Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator. 4) Administrative Order No. 2, issued on March 21, 2002 by the Department of Agrarian Reform entitled: Institutionalization of the Center for Land Use Policy, Planning and Implementation, mandating a process for evaluating and prioritizing current uses of land. It would be unnecessary for now, for this Representation to delve deeply into the intricacies of these laws, mandates and powers for whom and what, for as of the moment, I am equally confused as our laws are; suffice it to say, that these inconsistencies deserve our undivided attention. As a conclusion, Mr. Speaker, may I strongly suggest that the policy environment on the utilization of our land and water resources, for that matter our natural resources, allow unhampered land use conversion that forces our country to produce sufficient food for a rapidly increasing population. The confusion permits the unimpeded and widespread extractive economic activities on our forests and water resources that could only result in the erosion of our frontiers and basis for food production. Moreover, and may I underscore, Mr. Speaker, that our confused policy environment could only allow greater vulnerability to climate change. Today, Mr. Speaker, this confusion has led to irresponsive climate mitigation measures. Sadly, the government had acquired the irresponsible habit of initiating action only when hysteria is looming in the horizon. As with Ormoc, Ondoy, Pedring and Sendong, government inaction is becoming more obvious even as it confusingly scrambles to plug stop-gap

9 measures instead of instituting long-lasting solutions based on firm policies and laws and implementation and regulatory measures. Our disaster management track record is, time and again, bruited as reactive instead of pro-active. Mr. Speaker, matagal na po nating alam na taun-taon, dinadaanan tayo ng malalakas na bagyo at matitinding pagbaha. Subalit tuwi na lang pong may bagyo at pagbaha, napakaraming nasasawi, nawawala, nawawalan ng bahay o di kaya ay natabunan ng putik mula sa bundok, at higit sa lahat, naaapektuhan ang pananim na siyang ikinabubuhay ng mga magsasaka at ng buong sambayanan, saka lamang tayo kikilos. Sa isa pong banda, ang nakalilitong mga batas na pilit ipinatutupad ang siyang sanhi ng ating pagsisisihan tuwi na lamang sasapit sa bansa ang mga sakuna at bagyo, habang ang mamamayan ay nananatiling mga biktima sa hagupit nito. In the face of realities, it has become incumbent upon us to act with urgency as it remains our obligation to do so. This Representation thereby issues the following recommendations: 1. Create the House of Representatives Special Committee on Climate Change and Mitigation, to be tasked with reviewing, integrating, and harmonizing relevant laws and legislative measures of concern. We must immediately pass legislative measures that will eventually put in place a National Land Use Policy that is ecologically and environmentally sensitive as much as it pursues the preservation or expansion of our food base towards food security. Let us urge the President to issue an executive order that shall enforce a moratorium in the application for land use conversions that covers not only agricultural lands but lands where there will be possible extractive activities or potential mining sites until all policies on land use conversion are harmonized. 2. The review of the Local Government Code is in order. Inasmuch as local governments play significant roles and functions in determining land use or classification, this would only mean reviewing the policies of the Department of Agrarian Reform, the local government units, the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and all government policies towards consistent and harmonious policy environment. 3. Related to this previous recommendation, there is a need to further clarify and settle local responsibility over local mining operations. This is to prevent finger-pointing every time a disaster strikes and claims more lives and properties. 4. Finally, I am strongly suggesting that the Department of Agriculture increase its quick response fund (QRF) allocation to five billion pesos (P5,000,000,000) that small farmers and fisherfolk can access in times of calamities and natural disasters. The fund shall cover farmers who are calamity victims of El Nio and La Nia. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I have shown some portions of Al Gores lecture in the film The Inconvenient Truth. While I am not an avowed fan of Mr. Gore, what strikes me most is the fact that he, being a private citizen, has suddenly come out and encouraged everyone to respond to the ill-effects of climate change.

10 He is not a public servant anymore, Mr. Speaker, but we are all. We have been elected by our constituents to make a difference. Let us make a difference now. Maraming salamat po. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Floor Leader is recognized. REP. ORTEGA (F.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we refer the speech of the Honorable Guanlao to the appropriate committee. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. REP. PALMONES. Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Yes, what is the pleasure of the Gentleman? REP. PALMONES. Will the Gentleman from Butil PartyList allow some clarificatory questions or questions, Mr. Speaker? THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Gentleman may yield if he so desires. REP. GUANLAO. Yes, Mr. Speaker. REP. PALMONES. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to add a little more confusion to the confused understanding of our confusing laws, as cited by the Honorable Guanlao, may I add to your litany of confusing laws Republic Act No. 8550, Mr. Speaker. Republic Act No. 8550 or the Fisheries Code of the Philippines was passed in 1998. In Section 45, it clearly indicates that two years after the enactment of the law, there should be no fish cages or fish pens allowed to exist in all lakes of the Philippines. You have mentioned Taal Lake and the destruction caused by fish kills in the recent years, Mr. Speaker. How come, until now, most of our lakes still have fish pens and fish cages when in fact, under Republic Act No. 8550, all those fish cages should have been removed in the year 2000? I hope that the Honorable Guanlao can include this in his list of laws that need clarification. Just for the information of the Honorable Guanlao, I just came from Supreme Court today because I filed a Writ of Kalikasan, asking also the Supreme Court to determine the legality of the existence of those fish cages that have been there for more than a decade now despite the existence of Republic Act No. 8550, more particularly, Section 45 of that law. That is all, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Honorable Guanlao. REP. GUANLAO. Thank you, my dear colleagues. Tama po, marami pa yata iyong mga batas na ating ipinasa, na tayo mismo ang gumawa, na mukhang may conflicting. Iyan po ay resulta ng mga, I think, batas ng Local Government Code at saka mga national agencies na iba-ibang ahensiya ang nagpapatupad. Kaya po, ako, ipinapanukala ko na magkaroon tayo ng isang Special Committee on Climate

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 Change and Mitigation upang rebisuhin at i-harmonize lahat ng batas na ito para sa ganoon, iyon pong finger pointing o iyong turuan ay mawala na at maisakatuparan natin ang tamang policy environment at nang maiwasan natin itong mga nararanasan nating mga disaster katulad po noong ating mga landslide, ng mga pagbaha at iba pang natural calamities. At marami pa po sigurong mga batas na kailangan nating repasuhin upang sa ganoon ay talagang maisakatuparan iyong climate change mitigation. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). What is the pleasure of the Gentleman from Sorsogon? REP. ESCUDERO. May I make a manifestation regarding the speech of the Gentleman from Butil. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Please proceed. REP. ESCUDERO. Mr. Speaker, there is no way we can solve the ill-effects of climate change for as long as we continue to have a galloping increase in population. Truth to tell, in a 1998 Cabinet meeting, I made it of record that I will never have a sleepless night because of land conversion. When there is a conflict between the need of man and the need of agriculture, fisheries, et cetera, you will have to decide in favor of the homo sapiens. Patawarin po ng mga taong hindi masyadong naiintindihan ito. Pupuntahan ka ng magsasaka, mayroong dalawang ektaryang patubig, hindi pa kumikita nang sapat, binibili na ng SM. Ano ang sasabihin mo? So, this is the reality, Mr. Speaker. For as long as we do not solve the galloping population increase in the Philippines, we will have all of these calamities because all of these are manmade. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The manifestation of the Gentleman is well taken. The Floor Leader is recognized. REP. ORTEGA (F.). Mr. Speaker, it was moved earlier and duly approved that the speech of the Honorable Guanlao be referred to the appropriate committee. REP. PANGANDAMAN (N.). Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). That is what we approved. REP. ORTEGA (F.). I further move, Mr. Speaker, that the interpellation of the Hon. Angelo B. Palmones, as well as the manifestation of the Hon. Salvador H. Escudero III thereon, be referred to the appropriate committee. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. REP. ORTEGA (F.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we suspend REP. PANGANDAMAN (N.). Mr. Speaker.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Hon. Nasser C. Pangandaman has the floor. REP. PANGANDAMAN (N.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). What is the pleasure of the Gentleman? REP. PANGANDAMAN (N.). Would the good Gentleman from Butil yield to some questions, Mr. Speaker? THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Gentleman already sat down. Unless he is still willing to REP. GUANLAO. It is a pleasure, Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). There were already intervening motions. REP. PANGANDAMAN (N.). Just a short manifestation, Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Will the Floor Leader please clarify the parliamentary situation because the motion came after interventions were made. REP. ORTEGA (F.). Mr. Speaker, we already made a motion that the speech, as well as the interpellation and the manifestation thereon, be referred to the proper committee. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). So, how would you take REP. ORTEGA (F.). I was about to move for the suspension of the Privilege Hour and proceed to the roll call if the Gentleman would be THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). If the Gentleman would be kind enough, we beg his indulgence because there was already an intervening motion or intervening motions. REP. PANGANDAMAN (N.). I would just yield to the Floor Leader. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). We can no longer ask the Gentleman to come back on the floor to answer to interpellations. REP. PANGANDAMAN (N.). Well, just a short manifestation, Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). You can just make a manifestation later on if you want. To drive home your point, the Chair will recognize the Gentleman for a manifestation as a substitute. REP. PANGANDAMAN (N.). Thank you. I will just yield to the Floor Leader, Mr. Speaker.
* See ANNEX (printed separately)

11 THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). All right. The Floor Leader is recognized. REP. ORTEGA (F.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move that we suspend the Privilege Hour. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. ROLL CALL REP. ORTEGA (F.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we call the roll. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. The Secretary General will please call the roll. The Secretary General called the roll, and the result is as follows, per Journal No. 34: * THE SECRETARY GENERAL. The roll call shows that 181 Members responded to the call. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). With 181 Members present, the Chair declares the presence of a quorum. The Majority Leader is recognized. REP. GONZALES (N.). Mr. Speaker, allow me at this point to temporarily suspend the Privilege Hour so that we can take up Bills on Second Reading. I so move. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. CONSIDERATION OF H. B. NO. 709 Continuation PERIOD OF SPONSORSHIP AND DEBATE REP. GONZALES (N.). From the Calendar of Unfinished Business, I move that we take up Committee Report No. 209 on House Bill No. 709, and request the Secretary General to read only the title of the measure. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. The Secretary General is directed to read the title of the bill. THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 709, entitled: AN ACT PROHIBITING AND PENALIZING THE PILFERAGE AND THEFT, UNAUTHORIZED USE, INTER-CONNECTION OR RECEPTION OF ANY SIGNAL OR SERVICE OFFERED OVER A CABLE

12 TELEVISION (CATV) OR CABLE INTERNET SYSTEM AND/OR NETWORK OR THROUGH ANY UNAUTHORIZED INSTALLATION, ACCESS OR CONNECTION THERETO THROUGH THE USE OF CABLE OR OTHER EQUIPMENT AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR. REP. GONZALES (N.). Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary status of the bill is that we are still in the period of interpellation. Considering that no Member has registered to interpellate the Sponsor, I move that we terminate the period of sponsorship and debate. I so move. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. REP. GONZALES (N.). There being no committee or individual amendments, I move that we close the period of amendments. I so move, Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. REP. GONZALES (N.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we approve on Second Reading House Bill No. 709. I so move. VIVA VOCE VOTING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). As many as are in favor of House Bill No. 709, please say aye. SEVERAL MEMBERS. Aye. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). As many as are against, please say nay. (Silence) APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 709 ON SECOND READING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The ayes have it; the motion is approved. House Bill No. 709 is approved. The Majority Leader is recognized. CONSIDERATION OF H.B. NO. 5620 ON SECOND READING PERIOD OF SPONSORSHIP AND DEBATE REP. GONZALES (N.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we consider House Bill No. 5620, under Committee Report No. 1594, as reported out by the Committee on Local Government. May I ask that the Secretary General be directed to read only the title of the measure.
* See MEASURES CONSIDERED (printed separately)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. * The Secretary General is directed to read only the title of the measure. With the permission of the Body, and since copies of the measure have been previously distributed, the Secretary General read only the title thereof without prejudice to inserting its text in the Congressional Record. THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5620, entitled: AN ACT EXEMPTING FROM THE POPULATION AND LAND AREA REQUIREMENTS THE CONVERSION OF A MUNICIPALITY INTO A COMPONENT CITY IF IT HAS A LOCALLY GENERATED AVERAGE ANNUAL INCOME OF AT LEAST TWO HUNDRED MILLION PESOS (P200,000,000.00), AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 450 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991. REP. GONZALES (N.) Mr. Speaker, I move that the Explanatory Note be considered as the sponsorship remarks on the measure. I so move, Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. REP. GONZALES (N.). There being no Member who wishes to interpellate the Sponsor, I move that we close the period of sponsorship and debate. I so move. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.). Mr. Speaker. REP. GONZALES (N.). There are no committee amendments but I understand that the Hon. Rufus B. Rodriguez has individual amendments that he would like to propose. May I move for his recognition, Mr. Speaker. REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker. SUSPENSION OF SESSION REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.). We move for the amendment of the title to acould we have a minute of recess, Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The session is suspended. It was 5:37 p.m.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 RESUMPTION OF SESSION At 5:38 p.m., the session was resumed. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The session is resumed. The Majority Leader is recognized. COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS REP. GONZALES (N.). Mr. Speaker, I am sorry. There are committee amendments and I move that we consider the following committee amendments: On page 2, line 7, between the words hundred and million insert the word TWENTY and substitute the figure P200,000,000 with the figure P220,000,000. I so move, Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. REP. GONZALES (N.). And correspondingly, we move to amend title of the bill to insert the word TWENTY and substitute the figure P200,000,000 with the figure P220,000,000 so that the title of the measure will be: AN ACT EXEMPTING FROM THE POPULATION AND THE LAND AREA REQUIREMENTS THE CONVERSION OF A MUNICIPALITY INTO A COMPONENT CITY IF IT HAS A LOCALLY GENERATED AVERAGE ANNUAL INCOME OF AT LEAST TWO HUNDRED TWENTY MILLION PESOS (P220,000,000), AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 450 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). What is the pleasure of the Gentleman from Cagayan de Oro City? SUSPENSION OF SESSION REP. GONZALES (N.). May I ask for a suspension of the session. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The session is suspended. It was 5:39 p.m. RESUMPTION OF SESSION At 5:42 p.m., the session was resumed. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The session is resumed. The Majority Leader is recognized. REP. GONZALES (N.). Mr. Speaker, I move for the previous question, which is now approved, the amendment of the title of the bill. I so move.
* See MEASURES CONSIDERED (printed separately)

13 THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. REP. GONZALES (N.). I now move that we close the period of amendments. I so move. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. REP. GONZALES (N.). I now move, Mr. Speaker, that we approve on Second Reading House Bill No. 5620. I so move. VIVA VOCE VOTING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). As many as are in favor of House Bill No. 5620, please say aye. SEVERAL MEMBERS. Aye. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). As many as are against, please say nay. FEW MEMBERS. Nay. APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 5620, AS AMENDED, ON SECOND READING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The ayes have it; the motion is approved. House Bill No. 5620, as amended, is approved. CONSIDERATION OF H.B. NO. 5640 ON SECOND READING PERIOD OF SPONSORSHIP AND DEBATE REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we consider House Bill No. 5640, as contained in Committee Report No. 1642, as reported out by the Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation and the Committee on Appropriations. May I ask that the Secretary General be directed to read only the title of the measure. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.* The Secretary General is directed to read only the title of the measure. With the permission of the Body, and since copies of the measure have been previously distributed, the Secretary General read only the title thereof without prejudice to inserting its text in the Congressional Record.

14 THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5640, entitled: AN ACT REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF GEOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED FOUR THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED NINE (R.A. NO. 4209), OTHERWISE KNOWN AS GEOLOGY PROFESSION LAW OF THE PHILIPPINES. REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that the Explanatory Note be considered as the sponsorship speech on the measure. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I now move that we open the period of sponsorship and debate, however, there being no Member who signified his intention to ask questions, I move that we close the same. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we open the period of amendments; however, there being no committee and individual amendments, I now move that we close the same. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. REP. GARIN (J.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I now move that we approve on Second Reading House Bill No. 5640. VIVA VOCE VOTING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). As many as are in favor of House Bill No. 5640, please say aye. SEVERAL MEMBERS. Aye. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). As many as are against, please say nay. FEW MEMBERS. Nay. APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 5640 ON SECOND READING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The ayes have it; the motion is approved. House Bill No. 5640 is approved. CONSIDERATION OF H.B. NO. 5655 ON SECOND READING PERIOD OF SPONSORSHIP AND DEBATE REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we consider
* See MEASURES CONSIDERED (printed separately)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 House Bill No. 5655, as contained in Committee Report No. 1651, as reported out by the Committee on Revision of Laws. May I ask that the Secretary General be directed to read only the title of the measure. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.* The Secretary General is directed to read only the title of the measure. With the permission of the Body, and since copies of the measure have been previously distributed, the Secretary General read only the title thereof without prejudice to inserting its text in the Congressional Record. THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5655, entitled: AN ACT DECLARING THE WALING-WALING ORCHID AS NATIONAL FLOWER OF THE PHILIPPINES IN ADDITION TO SAMPAGUITA AS DECLARED IN PROCLAMATION NO. 652, DATED 01 FEBRUARY 1934 BY GOVERNOR-GENERAL FRANK MURPHY. REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that the Explanatory Note be considered as the sponsorship speech on the measure. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. REP. GARIN (J.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I now move that we open the period of sponsorship and debate; however, there being no Member who has signified his intention to ask questions, I move that we close the same. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. REP. GARIN (J.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I now move that we open the period of amendments; however, there being no committee nor individual amendments, I move that we close the same. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I now move that we approve on Second Reading House Bill No. 5655. VIVA VOCE VOTING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). As many as are in favor of House Bill No. 5655, please say aye. SEVERAL MEMBERS. Aye. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). As many as are against, please say nay.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 FEW MEMBERS. Nay. APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 5655 ON SECOND READING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The ayes have it; the motion is approved. House Bill No. 5655 is approved. REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I now move that we take up items for approval on Third Reading. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. NOMINAL VOTING ON H.B. NO. 592 ON THIRD READING REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote on Third Reading on House Bill No. 592 and direct the Secretary General to read the title of the measure, and call the roll for nominal voting. I so move. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. Thereupon, the Secretary General read the title of the measure, printed copies of which were distributed to the Members on January 16, 2012, pursuant to Section 58, Rule X of the House Rules. THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 592, entitled: AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR A NATIONAL FOLIC ACID EDUCATION PROGRAM TO PREVENT BIRTH DEFECTS. The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the House, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting on Third Reading on the aforesaid measure appears in Journal No. 34 dated January 24, 2012. * APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 592 ON THIRD READING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). With 189 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, House Bill No. 592 is approved on Third Reading. The Sr. Dep. Majority Leader is recognized. NOMINAL VOTING ON H.B. NO. 4153 ON THIRD READING REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote on Third Reading on House Bill No. 4153 and direct the Secretary General to read the title of the measure, and call the roll for nominal voting. I so move.
* See ANNEX (printed separately)

15 THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. Thereupon, the Secretary General read the title of the measure, printed copies of which were distributed to the Members on January 16, 2012, pursuant to Section 58, Rule X of the House Rules. THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 4153, entitled: AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES IN THE PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGIC WATERS, PRESCRIBING THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF FOREIGN SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT EXERCISING THE RIGHT OF ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES PASSAGE THROUGH THE ESTABLISHED ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES AND PROVIDING FOR THE ASSOCIATED PROTECTIVE MEASURES THEREIN. The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the House, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting on Third Reading on the aforesaid measure appears in Journal No. 34 dated January 24, 2012. * APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 4153 ON THIRD READING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). With 189 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, House Bill No. 4153 is approved on Third Reading. The Sr. Dep. Majority Leader is recognized. NOMINAL VOTING ON H.B. NO. 5484 ON THIRD READING REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote on Third Reading on House Bill No. 5484 and direct the Secretary General to read the title of the measure, and call the roll for nominal voting. I so move. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. Thereupon, the Secretary General read the title of the measure, printed copies of which were distributed to the Members on January 16, 2012, pursuant to Section 58, Rule X of the House Rules. THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5484, entitled: AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE REGULATION OF FIREARMS, LIGHT WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION, PENALIZING VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NUMBERED EIGHTEEN HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX. The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the

16 House, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting on Third Reading on the aforesaid measure appears in Journal No. 34 dated January 24, 2012. * APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 5484 ON THIRD READING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). With 189 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, House Bill No. 5484 is approved on Third Reading. NOMINAL VOTING ON H.B. NO. 5594 ON THIRD READING REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote on Third Reading on House Bill No. 5594 and direct the Secretary General to read the title of the measure, and call the roll for nominal voting. I so move. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. Thereupon, the Secretary General read the title of the measure, printed copies of which were distributed to the Members on January 16, 2012, pursuant to Section 58, Rule X of the House Rules. THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5594, entitled: AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE RETENTION AND UTILIZATION OF THE INCOME DERIVED BY THE NATIONAL MUSEUM, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 26 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8492, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL MUSEUM ACT OF 1998. The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the House, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting on Third Reading on the aforesaid measure appears in Journal No. 34 dated January 24, 2012. * APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 5594 ON THIRD READING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). With 190 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, House Bill No. 5594 is approved on Third Reading. NOMINAL VOTING ON H.B. NO. 5624 ON THIRD READING REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote on Third Reading on House Bill No. 5624 and direct the Secretary General to read the title of the measure, and call the roll for nominal voting. I so move. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
* See ANNEX (printed separately)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 Thereupon, the Secretary General read the title of the measure, printed copies of which were distributed to the Members on January 16, 2012, pursuant to Section 58, Rule X of the House Rules. THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5624, entitled: AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE CAREER EXECUTIVE SYSTEM. The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the House, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting on Third Reading on the aforesaid measure appears in Journal No. 34 dated January 24, 2012. * APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 5624 ON THIRD READING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). With 190 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, House Bill No. 5624 is approved on Third Reading. NOMINAL VOTING ON H.B. NO. 5627 ON THIRD READING REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote on Third Reading on House Bill No. 5627 and direct the Secretary General to read the title of the measure, and call the roll for nominal voting. I so move. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. Thereupon, the Secretary General read the title of the measure, printed copies of which were distributed to the Members on January 16, 2012, pursuant to Section 58, Rule X of the House Rules. THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5627, entitled: AN ACT PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS, PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the House, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting on Third Reading on the aforesaid measure appears in Journal No. 34 dated January 24, 2012. * APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 5627 ON THIRD READING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). With 190 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, House Bill No. 5627 is approved on Third Reading.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 NOMINAL VOTING ON H.B. NO. 4195 ON THIRD READING REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote on Third Reading on House Bill No. 4195 and direct the Secretary General to read the title of the measure, and call the roll for nominal voting. I so move. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. Thereupon, the Secretary General read the title of the measure, printed copies of which were distributed to the Members on January 16, 2012, pursuant to Section 58, Rule X of the House Rules. THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 4195, entitled: AN ACT EXTENDING THE COVERAGE OF THE REDUCED RETIREMENT AGE FOR UNDERGROUND MINE WORKERS TO INCLUDE MILL PLANT WORKERS AND SUPPORT SERVICES PERSONNEL SUCH AS MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL AND TAILINGS POND PERSONNEL, AMENDING FURTHER ARTICLE 287 OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, AS AMENDED. The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the House, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting on Third Reading on the aforesaid measure appears in Journal No. 34 dated January 24, 2012. * APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 4195 ON THIRD READING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). With 190 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, House Bill No. 4195 is approved on Third Reading. NOMINAL VOTING ON H.B. NO. 4379 ON THIRD READING REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote on Third Reading on House Bill No. 4379 and direct the Secretary General to read the title of the measure, and call the roll for nominal voting. I so move. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. Thereupon, the Secretary General read the title of the measure, printed copies of which were distributed to the Members on January 16, 2012, pursuant to Section 58, Rule X of the House Rules.
* See ANNEX (printed separately)

17 THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 4379, entitled: AN ACT GRANTING THE RELIANCE BROADCASTING UNLIMITED, INC. A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCASTING STATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES. The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the House, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting on Third Reading on the aforesaid measure appears in Journal No. 34 dated January 24, 2012. * APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 4379 ON THIRD READING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). With 190 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, House Bill No. 4379 is approved on Third Reading. NOMINAL VOTING ON H.B. NO. 5180 ON THIRD READING REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote on Third Reading on House Bill No. 5180 and direct the Secretary General to read the title of the measure, and call the roll for nominal voting. I so move. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. Thereupon, the Secretary General read the title of the measure, printed copies of which were distributed to the Members on January 16, 2012, pursuant to Section 58, Rule X of the House Rules. THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5180, entitled: AN ACT DECLARING AUGUST 9 OF EVERY YEAR AS THE NATIONAL DAY OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN THE PHILIPPINES. The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the House, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting on Third Reading on the aforesaid measure appears in Journal No. 34 dated January 24, 2012. * APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 5180 ON THIRD READING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). With 190 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, House Bill No. 5180 is approved on Third Reading. NOMINAL VOTING ON H.B. NO. 5574 ON THIRD READING REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote on

18 Third Reading on House Bill No. 5574 and direct the Secretary General to read the title of the measure, and call the roll for nominal voting. I so move. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. Thereupon, the Secretary General read the title of the measure, printed copies of which were distributed to the Members on January 16, 2012, pursuant to Section 58, Rule X of the House Rules. THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5574, entitled: AN ACT GRANTING THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC. A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT THE PHILIPPINES. The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the House, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting on Third Reading on the aforesaid measure appears in Journal No. 34 dated January 24, 2012. * APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 5574 ON THIRD READING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). With 190 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, House Bill No. 5574 is approved on Third Reading. NOMINAL VOTING ON H.B. NO. 5576 ON THIRD READING REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote on Third Reading on House Bill No. 5576 and direct the Secretary General to read the title of the measure, and call the roll for nominal voting. I so move. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. Thereupon, the Secretary General read the title of the measure, printed copies of which were distributed to the Members on January 16, 2012, pursuant to Section 58, Rule X of the House Rules. THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5576, entitled: AN ACT RENEWING THE FRANCHISE GRANTED TO QUEST BROADCASTING, INC. (FORMERLY SBS RADIO NETWORK, INC.) A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN RADIO BROADCASTING STATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
* See ANNEX (printed separately)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the House, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting on Third Reading on the aforesaid measure appears in Journal No. 34 dated January 24, 2012. * APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 5576 ON THIRD READING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). With 190 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, House Bill No. 5576 is approved on Third Reading. NOMINAL VOTING ON H.B. NO. 5600 ON THIRD READING REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote on Third Reading on House Bill No. 5600 and direct the Secretary General to read the title of the measure, and call the roll for nominal voting. I so move. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. Thereupon, the Secretary General read the title of the measure, printed copies of which were distributed to the Members on January 16, 2012, pursuant to Section 58, Rule X of the House Rules. THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5600, entitled: AN ACT TRANSFERRING THE LOCATION OF THE LA UNION SECOND DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE FROM NAGUILIAN, LA UNION TO AGOO, LA UNION, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9033. The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the House, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting on Third Reading on the aforesaid measure appears in Journal No. 34 dated January 24, 2012. * APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 5600 ON THIRD READING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). With 190 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, House Bill No. 5600 is approved on Third Reading. NOMINAL VOTING ON H.B. NO. 5608 ON THIRD READING REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote on Third Reading on House Bill No. 5608 and direct the Secretary General to read the title of the measure, and call the roll for nominal voting. I so move.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. Thereupon, the Secretary General read the title of the measure, printed copies of which were distributed to the Members on January 16, 2012, pursuant to Section 58, Rule X of the House Rules. THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5608, entitled: AN ACT REAPPORTIONING THE PROVINCE OF PALAWAN INTO THREE (3) LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS. The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the House, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting on Third Reading on the aforesaid measure appears in Journal No. 34 dated January 24, 2012. * APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 5608 ON THIRD READING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). With 190 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, House Bill No. 5608 is approved on Third Reading. NOMINAL VOTING ON H.B. NO. 5613 ON THIRD READING REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote on Third Reading on House Bill No. 5613 and direct the Secretary General to read the title of the measure, and call the roll for nominal voting. I so move. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. Thereupon, the Secretary General read the title of the measure, printed copies of which were distributed to the Members on January 16, 2012, pursuant to Section 58, Rule X of the House Rules. THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5613, entitled: AN ACT AMENDING THE FRANCHISE OF WITRIBE TELECOMS, INC., (FORMERLY LIBERTY BROADCASTING NETWORK, INCORPORATED) GRANTED UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1553, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4154, AND RENEWING/EXTENDING THE TERM THEREOF FOR ANOTHER TWENTY-FIVE (25) YEARS FROM THE DATE OF THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT. The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the House, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting on Third Reading on the aforesaid measure appears in Journal No. 34 dated January 24, 2012. *
* See ANNEX (printed separately)

19 APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 5613 ON THIRD READING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). With 190 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, House Bill No. 5613 is approved on Third Reading. NOMINAL VOTING ON H.B. NO. 5622 ON THIRD READING REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote on Third Reading on House Bill No. 5622 and direct the Secretary General to read the title of the measure, and call the roll for nominal voting. I so move. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. Thereupon, the Secretary General read the title of the measure, printed copies of which were distributed to the Members on January 16, 2012, pursuant to Section 58, Rule X of the House Rules. THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5622, entitled: AN ACT INCREASING THE BED CAPACITY OF THE QUIRINO MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER FROM THREE HUNDRED FIFTY (350) TO FIVE HUNDRED (500) BEDS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8313, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the House, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting on Third Reading on the aforesaid measure appears in Journal No. 34 dated January 24, 2012. * APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 5622 ON THIRD READING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). With 190 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, House Bill No. 5622 is approved on Third Reading. NOMINAL VOTING ON H.B. NO. 5626 ON THIRD READING REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote on Third Reading on House Bill No. 5626 and direct the Secretary General to read the title of the measure, and call the roll for nominal voting. I so move. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.

20 Thereupon, the Secretary General read the title of the measure, printed copies of which were distributed to the Members on January 16, 2012, pursuant to Section 58, Rule X of the House Rules. THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5626, entitled: AN ACT PROVIDING MEASURES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN ABOARD MOTORCYCLES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the House, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting on Third Reading on the aforesaid measure appears in Journal No. 34 dated January 24, 2012. * APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 5626 ON THIRD READING THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). With 190 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, House Bill No. 5626 is approved on Third Reading. CONSIDERATION OF H.B. NO. 4244 Continuation PERIOD OF SPONSORSHIP AND DEBATE REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I now move that we take up an item in the Unfinished Business. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I move that we now take up House Bill No. 4244, as contained in Committee Report No. 664, and that the Secretary General be directed to read the title of said measure. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. The Secretary General is so directed. THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 4244, entitled: AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ON RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, AND POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary status of this bill is that it is in the period of interpellations. For this purpose, I now move that we recognize the Hon. Luzviminda C. Ilagan to sponsor the said measure, and to interpellate, I further move that we recognize the Hon. Gabriel Luigi L.R. Quisumbing. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Who will interpellate, Sr. Dep. Majority Leader?
* See ANNEX (printed separately)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 REP. GARIN (J.). The Hon. Luigi Quisumbing, Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The distinguished Lady, the Honorable Ilagan, is recognized to sponsor the bill, and please clarify who is going to interpellate. SUSPENSION OF SESSION REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, as of last week, the Committee on Rules has made representations to the Hon. Luigi Quisumbing who agreed to interpellate the Sponsor. May I move for a few minutes suspension of the session, Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The session is suspended. It was 6:00 p.m. RESUMPTION OF SESSION At 6:11 p.m., the session was resumed. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The session is resumed. REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, before we proceed with the interpellation on House Bill No. 4244, allow us to acknowledge the presence of guests in the gallery. With us are the barangay captains of Biabas, Ubay, Bohol, Mardonia Vallentos, the Hon. Anabell Cacafranca, the Hon. Carolina Bacatan, Barangay Captain Ronald Rosales, the Hon. Rogelio Cagulangan, the Hon. Policarpio Vasquez and the Hon. Renildo Valleser. They are guests of the Hon. Erico B. Aumentado of the Second District of Bohol. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Please rise. Welcome to the House of Representatives. (Applause) The Sr. Dep. Majority Leader is recognized. REP. GARIN (J.). Mr. Speaker, I now move that we recognize the Hon. Luigi Quisumbing to interpellate the honorable Sponsor of House Bill No. 4244, the Hon. Luz Ilagan. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Honorable Quisumbing may now proceed with his interpellation. REP. QUISUMBING. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the distinguished Lady yield to a few questions? REP. ILAGAN. Certainly, Mr. Speaker. REP. QUISUMBING. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to first of all, congratulate the proponents of this measure. While I do not agree with many of its provisions, I certainly do not dispute the intentions of the authors in wanting to make the country a better place.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 However, Mr. Speaker, my reservations deal primarily with the fact that we are a country that is still struggling to find its way. Our resource allocations under the current administration have vastly improved compared to the previous administration; however, there are still quite a few deficiencies that over time will be addressed. My concern, Mr. Speaker, is that, the resources that will be allocated for reproductive health measures will take away from some of the other priority projects that are absolutely essential and vital to our countrys infrastructure and services that need major funding. Just last month, Mr. Speaker, we saw the devastating effects of typhoon Sendong, and other natural calamities that have plagued our nation over the last few months. This money, the P8 billion to P30 billion purportedly that the RH Bill will need so it can be implemented can be used to revitalize Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City. It can be used to solve the flooding in the province of Cebu, in Metro Manila, in Marikina, and other places where we can help save lives. We also have the potential to improve the infrastructure in these areas. Mr. Speaker, may I ask the distinguished Sponsor what she thinks about putting money into the RH Bill, putting money into buying reproductive health aids, when we can use this money to revitalize and improve the infrastructure that will affect millions upon millions of lives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. REP. ILAGAN. Mr. Speaker, we agree that money should go to the priorities of our people, and health is a priority. In fact, this money would go a long way in saving lives, as mentioned by the honorable interpellator, because the RH Bill certainly is not limited only to family planning or birth control issues or supplies. It covers comprehensive health which is a very, very important issue in terms of saving lives. We have been told, and the facts show, that a lot of mothers die daily because of complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Is this not a priority that we should consider? Is it not part of the government obligation that our people enjoy health and enjoy the benefits of a quality of life, both of which can be provided by funding for a comprehensive health program? We agree that infrastructure is important. We agree that other aspects of development should also be considered but, certainly, the health of our people, the lives of women, should be the primary consideration if we want to develop as mentioned by the interpellator. REP. QUISUMBING. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I absolutely agree that health care is a priority of this government and it should be the absolute paramount priority of our nation especially since we know that if we secure the health of the Filipino people, we will be even more productive. It will help drive our industries. It will help to drive our economy and we will be able to improve tax collection. We will be able to reach the heights that the Filipino people truly deserve. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I wonder why we must concentrate primarily on reproductive health care. Why can we not instead put the same amount in other sectors? Why can we not expand even further? I will join the distinguished Sponsors, Mr. Speaker, in even increasing the amount required

21 if we are looking at PhilHealth, a true comprehensive health care plan that will be able to address health care issues of the entire country, of the entire population, not just one sector which, admittedly, Mr. Speaker, is one of our most important sectors. Why can we not look instead to put all of this funding and even more, Mr. Speaker, into comprehensive health care for the entire country, without having to select a particular gender, without having to select a particular sector, when we can cover families, when we can cover entire communities in health care? REP. ILAGAN. Mr. Speaker, the Reproductive Health Bill actually covers the health of families and not only of women. It covers comprehensive health care for families children and the parents. So, if what we are looking for is providing services for the majority of our people, especially the poor, especially those who cannot access necessary health care and services, then this is the response. You see, the Reproductive Health Bill is not limited only to women; it covers per definition of reproductive health, the full complement of our lives. It is the quality of life that we want to give not only to those who are of reproductive age but also to children, to those in the menopausal age, and also of people who do not necessarily belong to the female gender. The UNICEF in 2000 stressed that RH and family planning can bring more benefits to our peopleat the least costthan any human technology known to mankind. So the calamities that we experience now, as mentioned by the honorable Speaker, are part of the problems that we are confronted with and the Reproductive Health Bill even has a provision on what we can do to help our people who are confronted by these calamities. There is a provision in the Reproductive Health Bill which says that evacuation centers should be provided with the necessary facilities and equipment so that the survivors or victims can be assisted. So, it means that money can go to where it is most needed. The Reproductive Health Bill is not limited to only one aspect of our lives, the productive or the child bearing years. It covers men, women and children. So by providing funds and by requiring government to look into programs and projects that can assist the majority of our people, we are actually ensuring that we are responding to their basic needs. REP. QUISUMBING. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This sounds wonderful. As a matter of fact and I am really glad that the RH Bill is quite comprehensive in that respect to cover evacuation centers, for example, or to cover universal health care for another. Will this then make PhilHealth in effect a redundancy in government allocations for universal health care? REP. ILAGAN. PhilHealth is only one aspect of the services that can be provided to our people. The proposed Reproductive Health Bill covers more than just the PhilHealth service. It includesif you study the bill, starting from the education of our young people, providing them with the necessary information for responsible behaviorfunding our health care facilities in the different regions so that they will be able to respond to the needs of the citizens. Also, it includes the other needs of those in the older age bracketwomen and men whose needs are normally ignored. So, PhilHealth

22 is only one aspect of the whole gamut of services that we can provide. So, it is going to be helpful but it will not be the beall and end-all of the services that we intend to give. REP. QUISUMBING. Mr. Speaker, would it not be better then, for example, to expand the scope of PhilHealth to include the specific issues that we are talking about? Would that not be more cost-effective? REP. ILAGAN. Mr. Speaker, PhilHeath is not even accessible to many of our citizens. There are people who do not even know that PhilHealth exists. We still have people in rural areas who may not even qualify for PhilHealth. So, even if PhilHealth is there as one of the aids that we can avail of, that our people can avail of, I think expanding the PhilHealth service would need further study. Whereas now, we already have a proposed bill that can still respond to other needs, to other areas that we can address in looking at the comprehensive health of our women and men. REP. QUISUMBING. So, Mr. Speaker, how do we envision that the budget for the RH Bill will be spent given that it has such a wide scope? The Lady mentioned that the PhilHealth is not accessible to many areas and I would guess that would be due to lack of medical facilities in some areas. If reproductive health aids, reproductive health implements are only a part of that since it is quite a large scope, what exactly are we looking at in terms of breakdown? How much allocation will be for evacuation centers? How much are we looking at for universal health coverage? How much are we looking at for purchase of reproductive health aids? REP. ILAGAN. Mr. Speaker, it is an unfortunate development that the budget of the Department of Health has been reduced. But if the Department of Health is given sufficient funding, then we can still respond to the needs of our people. Money can be very useful in many ways. It will be most useful in improving facilities that are located in different parts of the country especially in depressed areas, but the money will not be limited to the purchase and the provision of family planning supplies because the RH Bill is not about population control only, it is not about family planning only. The Reproductive Health Bill intends to cover a lot of other areas. So if we have the budget, especially if the budget for the Department is increased, then we can train more health attendants, we can have funding for seminars, for teachers who will be asked to give the necessary training for our young people. We can have funds for the purchase of mobile health clinics that are in the requirements of the Reproductive Health Bill. We can have funds for the purchase of medicines not necessarily for family planning but medicines needed by children for general family health care and for other supplies. So, money, especially when provided to a Department that needs it most to serve our people in terms of their health care, would be very helpful, would be used judiciously in addressing particular needs. But exactly how much will go to this particular item, that would depend on how the Department will allocate it judiciously. REP. QUISUMBING. Thank you, Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 The reason I asked is that so much has been said about both sides of this bill. It has aroused passion in the Filipino people and it is a very controversial bill. Now, personally, like I said, what I care about is to make sure that whatever we pass in Congress will be to the absolute benefit of the Filipino people. I worry that if we are not concrete about what financial capacity we will need, how much funding the RH Bill would need also, will have a devastating effect on the Filipino people as well, for those who support the RH Bill, for example. If it is not able to achieve its goals, if it is not able to provide the evacuation centers, if it is not able to provide the mobile health clinics, that is equally damaging. This is why I asked about PhilHealth as well because personally, this humble Representation being from the province of Cebu is aware that we do have access to health care, and PhilHealth is absolutely important to everybody, in the Cebuano community and in many communities nationwide. If we were to spend, for example, the P8 to P30 billionthe figure seems to fluctuate somewhere between thaton hospital facilities, perhaps we can build hospital facilities in areas where there are no hospitals yet, that will allow greater access to PhilHealth and other health care services. The reason I say this is that I would like to take a look at health care in a larger view. There are so many killer diseases that are actually plaguing our society right now. If we were to invest and expand our PhilHealth coverage, definitely this would be able to save even more lives, Mr. Speaker. REP. ILAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I do agree that Cebu is fortunate enough that its people can avail of health care, but it may not be true for other provinces that need special support because they do not have the wherewithal to pursue a more proactive, fund-provided health care. But PhilHealth may not be the answer to our woes. True, money can be used to build more hospitals, to train more health personnel. Money can be used to buy medicines and money can be used to provide for facilities that can assist people of all ages in their health needs. Your proposal to expand the PhilHealth can be taken up in another billthat can be studied further. But let us face the reality that we have a lot of people who may not even qualify for PhilHealth. So, expanding the PhilHealth provisions may not be the answer to the problem that we have to respond to our different needs on health care. So, reproductive health legislation is necessary. It is imperative. It is crucial because it will address our problems with regard to health. Many of our people especially the 2.6 million Filipino women who would like to see the passage of Reproductive Health Bill which will provide them information and access to services would not be benefited if we do not immediately pass a bill which would address their needs. Many of our Filipino women are still uninformed about how to take care of their health needs, how to access the facilities that we should be able to provide, and many of our people still have to suffer the basic problems that should no longer be faced by a developing country such as ours. So, if PhilHealth is seen as the solution and PhilHealth has a lot of requirements for people to qualify and which may not be within the means of many of our poor, our uneducated, those who live in distant places, it may not be the answer at all. It is

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 not the answer. Expanding PhilHealth is not the solution to a very urgent health problem, the issue of saving lives of women, the issue of taking care of our children, the issue of educating our young because HIV/AIDS is increasing rapidly in our country. Those cases are increasing. The Reproductive Health Bill covers a lot of issues that we can address. While the Gentleman sees that PhilHealth is an aid, it may not be the solution at all. REP. QUISUMBING. Thank you, Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker. It is true, this humble Representation feels that while imperfect PhilHealth does have tremendous advantages, my concern is, and I take your suggestion, that we study and we further research how we can improve PhilHealth. The fact of the matter is that our resources are the scantiest, and as you may know, are limited. We do not have an infinite ceiling to spend. We have limited resources. Much has been lamented about the fact that many of the programs and services we would want to see done cannot be funded due to the lack of material resources in this country. I worry that perhaps if we fund the P8 to P30 billion needed for the RH Bill to be fully implemented, to be successful in the aims which the Sponsors are envisioning, it would take so much financial resources away from other programs as well. Paramount or the most important to my mind is, again, the PhilHealth program which I really do believe has tremendous potential to touch millions of Filipino lives. Moreover, if the infrastructure development needed to keep our Filipino people safe is an absolute concern. The P8 to P30 billion takes away quite a bit of resources whereas this money can be used towards reconstructing Cagayan, redoing, refitting our sewerage systems around Metro Manila to make sure that the millions of Filipinos who also live in these areas, not just in urban but in rural areas as well, are saved from the natural disasters that may occur. While I am thankful for the provision of additional evacuation centers, Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, this is precisely why I asked earlier how much will be needed, how much will be spent for these evacuation centers. Will we be able to sustain operation for example of these evacuation centers? Are we going to be able to sustain the operation of this mobile health clinic, Mr. Speaker? Are we going to be able to continue to fund the medicines needed so the reproductive health aids, for a year or two years, but for the entire fertile cycle, Mr. Speaker? REP. ILAGAN. Mr. Speaker, first, I was just wondering where the P30 billion came from because certainly that is not the budget of the DOH. But it would be something to wish for if such an enormous amount at this time can be provided for basic health care. Second, coming up with infrastructure may not be the answer at all. Of what use are bridges, roads and buildings if you have people dying of malnutrition, dying of complications of child birth and we have people who cannot even afford to send their children to school? Of what use are roads, bridges and big buildings if we cannot even fund or buy basic medicines for our young and if women cannot even access the most basic of their needs? Third, any amount that can be provided will be most useful in terms of health care. With regard to PhilHealth, as our interpellator has been harping on that perhaps that is the solution and I have said that PhilHealth is even beyond the means of

23 many of our ordinary citizens, what more now where expanding PhilHealth or even the proposal that we increase the premium from P1,300 to more than P2,000 has been the object of complaints of many of our sectors? Even our OFWs are complaining that increasing the PhilHealth premium will not even help them. These are our modern day heroes and heroines who are contributing a lot to buoy up our economy because of their remittances but they themselves are complaining about the proposal to increase the PhilHealth premiums. What more if coming from our other sectors who cannot even afford these minimum contributions to PhilHealth? So, expanding the PhilHealth service may not be helpful at all. REP. QUISUMBING. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I apologize for harping on the PhilHealth program. I have seen personally how much it has affected the people that live in this humble Representations district. It has saved many lives. The reason I asked, again, I keep saying, about the P8 to P30 billion is that precisely because no fixed amount has been tagged on to the RH Bill. What I would like to know is, exactly, how much will it entail? What are we going to spend on, Mr. Speaker? How much will it take to operate because this is not a one-time appropriation? This will have to continue in order to be effective and again, we are not talking in terms of a one-year cycle. We are not even talking in terms of a 10year cycle, Mr. Speaker. We are talking about generations down the line of Philippines appropriations. This is why I am so concerned about exactly what we will be spending on. How much of our resources will it entail? REP. ILAGAN. Mr. Speaker, it would be difficult to come up with an exact amount in order to cover a very important priority such as health because it is equivalent to the survival of a person or of a nation. The funds that would be needed for the Reproductive Health law, if it is going to be implemented, will naturally increase as the years pass by because our population is growing. The needs of our people will also increase and certainly, there would be other reasons for the increase in the maintenance of hospitals and the provision of medicines in the different health facilities in the country. It is not equivalent to coming up with the construction of evacuation centers. The bill does not say we construct evacuation centers. The bill just says that if we have evacuation centers, we should ensure that we have the medicines, the health equipment and facilities that can be accessed by those who are in the evacuation centers. Certainly, we need a lot of funds to ensure that we have a healthy nation and when we talk about health, this is not limited only to the productive years or the reproductive years of the people. This is not merely about giving supplies for family planning. That is only one aspect because we do not perceive the Reproductive Health Bill as a population control bill. It is not. The Reproductive Health Bill covers comprehensive health for peoplemen, women and children. Certainly, it is paramount on the part of the government that a large amount of money be set aside for the health of our people. A healthy nation would be a productive nation. If we can ensure that we can lessen maternal deaths, certainly, that would be a big step towards the development, the progress of our nation. Money should not even be a problem, it is the solution. If you look at it, the problem that if we have the right amount of funds to be given to the agencies that will be

24 able to use it judiciously towards addressing a very important issue such as health, certainly, we should support that kind of action. REP. QUISUMBING. Thank you, Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker. Mme. Sponsor, may this humble Representation ask, exactly what ailments, what treatments, what medical supplies will the RH Bill cover? It seems to me that it is quite a large scope if you include medicines to be made available at evacuation centers for example, Mme. Sponsor. What treatments, what medical procedures, what ailments will the RH Bill actually be covering under its scope? REP. ILAGAN. Mr. Speaker, when we talk of health, we cover a lot of areas. We cover the needs of children so that they are given adequate attention for their nutrition and for their growth, so that would include vitamins; that would include other supplies that mothers need to give to their children. The Reproductive Health Bill would also make sure that we have materials, not necessarily medicines, for information and that we have the correct equipment in the different health facilities. The most basic equipment should be allowedfor example, BP apparatus or whatever equipment that would be necessary to monitor the health of women, men and children. When we talk of medicines, supplies, it is not limited to contraceptives. It is not going to be limited only to the supplies that would be about birth control. That is only one aspect, Mr. Speaker. It would cover, let us say, the needs of men and women who are in the andropausal or menopausal stage, the needs of those who are, we say, differently abled. There is a provision in the Reproductive Health Bill stating that we should also pay attention to people who have disabilities, people who have special needs, and so that would be part of the funds that should be provided for in this program. So, it will cover the full range of supplies and medicines for children, women and men that would be necessary to monitor and to provide the necessary services for them. REP. QUISUMBING. Thank you, Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker. These are very worthy initiatives to be sure, yet it seems to me, Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, that these are already existing items under the Department of Health. Would it not be a much quicker process or much more logical, if you pardon my expression, Mme. Sponsor, to push therefore instead for the augmentation of these budgets for the PWD sector for example, or purchase of milk or nutritional supplements for children? These are already ongoing programs, Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker. Would it not be easier or less cumbersome, Mr. Speaker, to instead push for the augmentation of these items which are already being provided for by the Department of Health? REP. ILAGAN. Mr. Speaker, it is a very good suggestion to just augment the budget, but how many times have we seen that even requests for augmentation are not acceded to? So it is not an assurance that if we request for augmentation, it can be given. The need for a national policy would be very helpful. There are local government units that already have the capacity to look after their own special needs in terms of

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 health services, but that is not true for the whole country. We need a national law, we need legislation to ensure that every local government unit is equally attended to, that we do not have an uneven distribution of the resources simply because one local government unit has better capabilities than the others. Also, if we legislate a bill that would oversee the comprehensive health of our people, then we ensure that we will not have a situation where we will be dependent on the interests, the bias or the whim of the Executive. If we have legislation on a national level, then we can ensure that there will be equal distribution, at least, of the resources; that local government units that do not have the capacity on their own to support their health programs can be attended to; and that this legislation will sustain a program and will not therefore be subject to the whims and caprice of a department which may have a different agenda, which may not at all be helpful to the majority of our population. REP. QUISUMBING. Thank you, Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker. The reason I asked, Mme. Sponsor, is that there is an existing law covering the PWD sector. There is an existing law covering evacuation centers, there is an existing law that covers the disbursement of medicines; yet this bill, the RH Bill, Mme. Sponsor, is saying that all of these other bills have come up short in their responsibility to the sectors that they are supposed to help. That is why I wonder, Mme. Sponsor, whether this bill may be subject againsince it is wide in scope and crosses so many different sectors and in effect covers the deficienciesto the perceived deficiencies of other existing laws. Will this not suffer the same fate as those other laws, Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker? At this juncture, Deputy Speaker Fuentebella relinquished the Chair to Rep. Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay. REP. ILAGAN. Is it not a great move to have a bill that will cover the deficiencies of the other laws as you mentioned, Mme. Speaker? The PWD Bill may have laudable provisions, but it does not cover the specific health requirements provided by the RH Bill. It is true that we have policies regarding evacuation centers, but they are not specific to what we can do in case we have evacuation centers, we have disasters, and we have women and men who have needs that are not contained in the existing laws. So, as you yourself have said that this Reproductive Health Bill is comprehensive and tries to cover the deficiencies of the other bills, is that not a good move, Mme. Speaker? If there are deficiencies in the other laws, then this is an attempt to ensure that what has not been provided in the other laws are now covered by this particular bill, whose implementation will be on a national level, ensuring that loopholes can be covered. I am not saying that this is the perfect bill to solve all our problems, but it is a step towards ensuring that a major problem such as health care for our women and men can be addressed. REP. QUISUMBING. Thank you, Mme. Sponsor. This humble Representation, Mme. Sponsor, respectfully believes that the amendment of those bills would actually probably be the better course.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 Mme. Sponsor, like we mentioned earlier, this bill has such a far reaching capacity. The RH Bill crosses so many sectors, so many different initiatives, so many different sectors. I worry, Mme. Sponsor, that we may lose sight of what exactly the goals of the RH Bill are. Is it to reduce maternal mortality? Is it any number of things, Mme. Sponsor? What exactly are we trying to achieve? What is the goal? What is the end in mind in passing the RH Bill? REP. ILAGAN. Mme. Speaker, the Reproductive Health Bill is an attempt to comprehensively look at a comprehensive way of addressing a very big problem in our society, in our country nowadays. Certainly, maternal mortality is a very big problem and we have to address that, but the Reproductive Health Bill is not focused only on maternal mortality; it also wants to lessen infant mortality. It wants to ensure that our young people will behave responsibly so that we delay their sexual activity; that they become very conscious about the values they should practice, especially with regard to cases or the threat of HIV/AIDS. It covers also the needs of our maturing citizenry, needs that are not addressed by other health programs. So, it is comprehensive because the comprehensive health care that we would like to attain is really defined by the need to ensure the physical, mental, psychological and social well-being of our people. It is not limited to only one aspect because we want to ensure that different aspects of our lives are really attended to. To ensure our productivity and ensure a better quality of life, a legislative step such as the Reproductive Health Bill is in order. To address a comprehensive health problem, we need a comprehensive health bill, a policy that will be on a national level that will attempt to cover every aspect of our lives. So its concern is not maternal mortality only, although it is a major component. Infant mortality is included, as well as education and access, especially because the Reproductive Health Bill is principally about the health of our people and it is the governments responsibility to address the needs and the health concerns of our people. REP. QUISUMBING. Thank you, Mme. Sponsor, Mme. Speaker. At this time, Mme. Sponsor, Mme. Speaker, I would like to reserve the right to continue my interpellation at a later date. THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Binay). The Sr. Dep. Majority Leader is recognized. SUSPENSION OF CONSIDERATION OF H.B. NO. 4244

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REP. GARIN (J.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we suspend the consideration of House Bill No. 4244. THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Binay). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. REP. GARIN (J.). Thank you, Mme. Speaker. Mme. Speaker, I move that the Secretary General be directed to immediately transmit to the Senate all bills earlier approved on Third Reading. THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Binay). The Secretary General will please comply. SUSPENSION OF SESSION REP. GARIN (J.). May we request for a few minutes suspension of the session, Mme. Speaker. THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Binay). The session is suspended. It was 6:56 p.m. RESUMPTION OF SESSION At 6:56 p.m., the session was resumed. THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Binay). The session is resumed. ADJOURNMENT OF SESSION REP. GARIN (J.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we adjourn the session until four oclock tomorrow afternoon. THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Binay). The session is adjourned until January 25, at four oclock tomorrow afternoon. It was 6:57 p.m.

Published by the Publication and Editorial Service, Plenary Affairs Bureau The Congressional Record can be accessed through the Downloads Center of the official website of the House of Representatives at www.congress.gov.ph
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