HOUSE Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Wednesday rallied his colleagues in the House of Representatives to do their part to ensure that the upcoming elections will be peaceful, orderly, safe and eco-friendly.
In his remarks at the closing of session for election recess, Velasco urged his fellow House members to take advantage of the positive benefits of the “new normal” brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic as they go back to their districts to campaign for the May 9 polls.
“Let us seize this opportunity to implement meaningful change in the way we conduct our campaigns, in the way we honor the sanctity of the ballot, and in the way we are held accountable for what we achieved,” Velasco said.
To ensure a safe and virus-free election campaign, Velasco said that House members could present their political platforms on social media, and engage in respectful interviews and debates through mass media.
“Let us be creative in making our people informed and engaged, without resorting to mass gatherings that may trigger another virus outbreak,” Velasco said.
He also urged his peers to “commit to engage our fellow candidates in a peaceful electoral exercise.”
Velasco, a known advocate for the environment, said that embracing new ways of campaigning can also benefit nature.
“During our campaign, I hope we can cut down on plastic or tarpaulin and paper waste. Let us prevent a mountain of trash during election day,” Velasco said.
The House will return briefly from May 23 to June 3 prior to the sine die adjournment of the third and final session of the 18th Congress.
During that period, the House—together with the Senate—will also convene as National Board of Canvassers tasked to proclaim the country’s incoming president and vice-president.
“After the campaign period, let us come back to these eminent halls, to convene as the National Board of Canvassers which will canvass the votes cast, and here proclaim our newly-elected President and Vice President of the Philippines,” Velasco told his colleagues.
“I look forward to seeing all of you again, and working with you so that the remaining significant bills might have a better chance in being enacted into law.”
The House chief, meanwhile, took the opportunity to thank his colleagues for their hard work and dedication, which allowed the 18th Congress to deliver a timely budget and other key national legislative measures.
Last December 30, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed into law the P5.024-trillion 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the extension of the 2021 GAA until December 31, 2022, and the establishment of the Department of Migrant Workers, which aims to improve coordination among agencies concerned with overseas Filipino workers and their affairs.
Congress also passed several significant measures signed into law recently, such as Republic Act (RA) 11642, or the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act, which simplifies and ensures a swift administrative adoption process; RA 11596 or An Act Prohibiting the Practice of Child Marriage that aims to protect children from abusive practices; RA 11535, which seeks to lure investments and create jobs, through the amendment of the Retail Trade Liberalization Act of 2000; RA 11598, which allows the agriculture department to provide for direct cash assistance to farmers who are tilling two hectares and below of rice land, and RA 11635 which states that hospitals that are non-profit and proprietary educational institutions shall pay a tax of one percent on their taxable income from July 1, 2020 until June 30, 2023.
Velasco also expressed his gratitude to Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, Minority Leader Joseph Stephen Paduano, as well as the Deputy Speakers and Committee Chairpersons for their leadership and hard work.
The Speaker likewise commended Secretary General Mark Llandro “Dong” Mendoza, Sergeant-at-Arms Rodelio Jocson, Deputy Secretary Generals, House Officials, as well as the Secretariat, Congressional Staff, and personnel, “for performing your job well and above their call of duty.”
He said these House officials and employees played a major role in making sure that the legislative mill continues to grind despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdowns. #