Backgrounder on House Speaker Belmonte

8/12/2019 Backgrounder on House Speaker Belmonte

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Drafted by DRO II Mico A. Galang, 17 July 2014 1345H

A. PROFILE

FELICIANO "Sonny" BELMONTE, JR.

Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines (2001, 2010-Present)Representative of the 4th District of Quezon City (1992-2001, 2010-Present)

Mayor of Quezon City (2001-2010)

Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. is the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In May 2010, he was re-elected Congressman, representing the Fourth District ofQuezon City, under the Liberal Party.

From June 2001 to June 2010, Belmonte was Mayor of Quezon City, duringwhich time he was selected as the Most Outstanding Mayor of the Philippines by the

Local Government Leadership Awards.

A Three-term Cong ressman

1992 marked Belmonte's first stint as congressman. Before he became mayor,Belmonte was elected representative of the 4th Congressional District of Quezon City,and held the position for three (3) consecutive terms. Belmonte was Speaker of the



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House of Representatives in 2001, and also served as House Minority Leader. In hisfirst two terms, he was the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations.

During his term as Congressman, he authored and co-authored several major bills,among them:

The General Appropriations Act, The Act Providing for a Dual System of Education, The Act Creating the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and The Salary Standardization Law.

Although largely concerned with budget and financial matters, Belmonte never forgotthe low-salaried employees, and was instrumental in the passage of the Second SalaryStandardization Law, which corrected the gross inequities of SSL 1. He also pushed forthe continued implementation of the Personal Economic Relief Alliance (PERA) for low-salaried government personnel.

A CEO Successful at Financial Turnaroun ds

His reputation for successfully turning around financial struggling governmentcorporations into viable and highly profitable enterprises was highlighted in the periodfrom 1986 to 2001, when Philippine President Corazon Aquino appointed him Presidentand General Manager of the Government Service and Insurance System (GSIS)and theManila Hotel, and he Chairman of the National Reinsurance Corporation of thePhilippines.

He also represented the government as Member of the Board of Directors of theSan Miguel Corporation (SMC), and the Philippine Long Distance andTelecommunications Company (PLDT). More importantly, he assumed the position ofPresident and Chief Executive Officer of the Philippine Airlines, which was then whollyowned by the Philippine government. All these were among the Top 10 corporations inthe country.

A Three-term Mayor o f Quezon City

As Mayor of Quezon City, his nine years of prudent fiscal management,aggressive tax management strategies, as well as increasing efficiency and growingdiscipline in the management, and use of City resources has made Quezon City themost competitive city of Metro Manila, and second in the Philippines today. These arerankings made by businessmen in the Philippines in studies of the Asian Institute ofManagement, in cooperation with international agencies.



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Quezon City was cited for the dynamism of its local economy, the quality of life ofits residents, and the responsiveness of the local government in addressing businessneeds, among others.

In 2007, Quezon City was ranked No. 7 Asian City of the Future, based on a

survey commissioned by the London Financial Times through a consultancy based inSingapore.

In a 2008 Tholons special report on global services, Quezon City ranked as thenumber 21 emerging global outsourcing city, the highest among all nine new entrants.

Belmonte has guided Quezon City to pioneer in many areas:

First to computerize revenue collection and assessment function. First to grant to barangays (community-level local government unit), full-fiscal

control over their share of real property tax collections.

First LGU to develop an extensive and continuous training curriculum forbarangay leaders. First to institutionalize City-wide citizen participation in governance thru the City

Development Council. First Urban Center to implement the Solid Waste Management Act. First to use Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) as biogas-reduction strategy,

and revenue generation mechanism from waste. First to operate the Biogas Emission Reduction Project as the first Clean

Development Mechanism (CDM) project in solid waster management in thePhilippines, and in Southeast Asia.

First LGU to manage an advanced computer training center. First to enact a Gender and Development Code for the protection of women and

children.

Recent Aw ards and Citat ions

Belmonte's governance of Quezon City has been recognized through the followingprominent awards:

2008 Galing Pook Award for the Payatas Dumpsite Transformation Project(Galing Pook Foundation)

2005 CEO Excel Award in Communications Leadership for Government 2005 Galing Pook Award for Outstanding Government Program, Molave Youth

Home (Galing Pook Foundation) 2003 Galing Pook Award for Effective Fiscal Management (Galing Pook

Foundation) "Most business-friendly city" awardee for 2003, 2004, and Hall of Famer in 2005

(Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry 2003 Livable Community Award (Metrobank Foundation)



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2003 Kabalikat sa Pabahay Award for the Local Government Unit with the MostNumber of Community Mortgage Programs (Housing and Urban DevelopmentCoordinating Council)

He has also received the following personal recognition:

2003 Most Outstanding City Mayor (Local Government Leadership Awards) Huwarang Pilipino Awardee for Local Governance (Huwarang Pilipino

Foundation) CEO Excel Awards for Communications Excellence in the Government Sector,

2006 Outstanding Filipino in Government Service of the Philippine Jaycees, and

Insular Life Philippines, 2002 Outstanding Congressman of the 9th, 10th, and 11th Congress Gintong Ama Awardee 1993 Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club of Manila

Model Filipino Awardee of the World Family Institute, 1994 Outstanding Alumni, Lyceum of the Philippines Benedictine Centennial Awardee, San Beda College Before joining government, he practiced law and engaged in civic activities.

At the age of 16, he started working as a reporter for a national newspaper.

In 1976, he was World President of Jaycess (JCI) International. He was also a three-time delegate of the Philippines to the International Labor Organization.



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B. SIGNIFICANT SPEECHES

I . Ac ceptan ce Speech Upon re-election as Speaker (26 July 2010)

Fellow Members of the House, friends and partners in governance, esteemedguests, ladies and gentlemen,

Eighteen years ago today, I took my oath for the first time as a Member of theHouse of Representatives. On my third term, in 2001, I was honored with the privilegeof serving this House as its 18th Speaker.

Through the next 9 years, from 2001 to June 2010, the people of Quezon Citywould entrust to me, for 3 consecutive terms, the rein of their City government. Many ofthose who worked hard with me in transforming Quezon City are here now in theaudience, still giving me moral support.

Last May, the constituents of the 4th District of Quezon City, gave me theprivilege to represent them anew in Congress.

My colleagues, today, you have given me back a rare honor. Through your trustand confidence, I stand here once again as the Speaker of the House of the People.Thank you for your overwhelming support. Be assured that I will work hard to earn thisconfidence. I am confident that you will help me succeed since you have as much stakeas I have in this success.

It is truly heart-warming and very humbling, that across the political spectrum,

transcending political boundaries, new and old friends, even former politicaladversaries, chose to entrust me the leadership of this Chamber for the next threeyears.

More so, since this 15th Congress opens at a time of no ordinary politicaltransition. Last May, the people of the Philippines did not only cast their votes for theirchosen candidates. The overwhelming majority used their electoral power to usher in achange in governance that is much more responsive to the public good.

The Filipino people have set very high expectations for all branches ofgovernment. Our President, Benigno Aquino III, is clearly setting the standards forexemplary public service. Congress should not set for itself, a benchmark of service tothe Filipino people that is anything less.

While party affiliations may have put us at odds during the political campaign,while our constituencies may be different, we know that all are tied together by thecommon need of the Filipino people for a life that is free yet secure, economicallyvibrant, environmentally healthy, peaceful and socially accepting. Our business is to



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continue to make sure that our laws sustainably assure the fulfillment of theseaspirations.

Even before President Aquino took his oath of office last June 30, a pervasivemood of hopeful change greeted his election. Today, that hope has evolved into

widespread public confidence that is visibly seen and felt - in the Filipinos who haverenewed their faith in government, in local and foreign businessmen who have becomeaggressive in their investment plans, and in the emerging resurgence of the Philippinesin the eyes of the global community.

We must see to it that the House of Representatives contributes to thisremarkable crest of change, and works further to maximize the advantages we arebeginning to gain.

Our mandate is to make sure that our legislative agenda not only fully supportsour country's resurgence, but further ignites it. Remember, decades ago, the Philippines

was among the fastest growing countries of Asia, neck and neck with its leadingeconomies. Pwede ba nating ambisyonin muli ito?

We have so many important challenges and tasks ahead of us - liberatingmillions of our people from the shackles of poverty, ensuring our globalcompetitiveness, peace in Mindanao, and so forth.

Let us keep in mind that government efficiency, economic well-being, and theattainment of public good are directly correlated to each other in the perception of thepublic.

My colleagues, the honor you have conferred on me, as your Speaker, comeswith it my commitment to strengthen the House of Representatives, resolute as a co-equal branch of our government, co-equal in power and independent - certainly, butalso accountable. We are accountable to each and every Filipino that we serve. We areaccountable, according to the laws of the land. We are accountable, according to theuniversal values of honesty and integrity.

When I was Mayor of Quezon City, my first order of business was putting ourhouse in order. I believe that this internally driven review and improvement of the waythings are run is a good formula to follow in this house of ours. It will create a goodfoundation for a Philippine Congress that is an advocate of reforms and practitioner ofgood governance, and credible, because it began to champion the change within itself,even as it looked beyond.

Let us be one in promoting a strong work ethic among ourselves including theHouse Secretariat. Let us show our commitment through consistent attendance to ourduties in the committees, in plenary, as well as to our constituencies.



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In all my years in public service, I have always observed prudence and judiciousness in the use and allocation of funds. During these times when the entirenational government must function within tight financial restraints, it would be goodpractice to opt for ways to optimize resources, to get maximum public value for everypeso budgeted and spent. We should continuously aim to promote higher levels of

efficiency.

Let us be judicious and prudent in crafting the national budget. We should relateagency performance and results obtained in promoting the welfare of the people to theirshare of public funds. Let us use our power of the purse to prod government agenciesto meet their performance targets. Let us clearly delineate the duties and responsibilitiesof government officials to prevent abuses and to minimize opportunities for graft andcorruption. The use of PDAF should engender no suspicion, but general agreement thatthey are used widely to give each district a socio economic lift, through greatertransparency and focus on our projects.

Before the end of August, we shall define the legislative agenda for the 15thCongress. We shall be setting the policy blueprint for national growth and social reformfor the next three years. We hope to harmonize our priorities, with those of the Senateand the Executive - the program of P.Noy, so that the passage of priority measures canbe timely, efficient and responsive.

Ours will be a progressive and forward-looking House, able to overcome self-interest to raise the Filipinos and the Philippines to a proud stature in the global rankingof nations.

The 15th Congress shall be a strong, independent and accountable arm ofgovernment - because all of us are capable and productive partners in making thishappen.

Through our election and oath of office, we have made a joint commitment togive our people a much better life. Let us bravely embrace this challenge. What we door fail to do, will matter.

Our country's future is at stake.

I am convinced that we, the Members of the 15th Congress, shall be the mostardent movers of the Philippines' social and economic transformation. All of you and Ishall work collaboratively to make this happen, with God's help.

May I now extend my hand to all of you, to those who supported me, to those whobelieved in me, my sincere and heart-felt gratitude. To my worthy opponent and dearfriend, the gentleman from Albay, Hon. Edcel Lagman, and those who supported him, Iextend my hand of cooperation. Let us work together for this House is our House.

Let us make it a true House of and for the benefit of all the people of the Philippines.



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Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat! Mabuhay kayo. Thank you.

I I. Speech du ring the Phil ipp ine Bu siness Conferenc e (9 Octo ber 2012)

[Delivered during the 38th Philippine Business Conference, 9 October 2012]

[My good friend] Mike (Miguel) Varela, President of PCCITony [Antonio] Lopa, Chair of the 38th Philippine Business ConferenceFred [Alfredo] Yao, Chairman of PCCIDonald Dee, Vice Chairman of PCCISerge [Sergio] Ortiz-Luis Jr., Honorary Chairman of PCCIDistinguished members of the PCC Board of DirectorsMembers of the Diplomatic CorpsDelegates to the 38th Philippine Business Conference

Ladies and gentlemen:

A pleasant morning to all.

First, I would like to congratulate the organizing committee headed by theconference chair Antonio Lopa and the board of directors of PCCI for putting togetheranother successful Philippine Business Conference.

I am not a stranger to this conference. In the past, I have delivered presentationsand speeches before your distinguished audience of business leaders and delegationsfrom all over the country and other parts of the world.

Over the years, your conference served as an important venue not just to hearout your concerns and views on critical issues about business and economy. At thesame time, it is also a venue to promote cooperation between business and governmentto address these concerns.

Your Conference Theme, "Investments and Governance, Pillars of EconomicReforms," is a timely attribution to the growing interest in the Philippine economy, as aresult of the various reforms that government and business are jointly pursuing.

There is no doubt that we are taking huge steps in our drive to achieve higher

and sustainable growth:

• Our economy grew by 6.1 percent in the first semeste r of 2012.• Our gross international reserves, as of August 2012, reached US$80.8 billion. Thisamount can cover about a year's worth of imports.• Our competitiveness ranking, as reported by the World Economic Forum, improved by20 places in the last two years -- from 85th to 65th place.



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• Our country's corruption perception index also improved by 10 places, from 139 in2010 to 129 in 2012.• We have reduced our budget deficits, and kept them within targets. • We have been given successive upgrades in our credit ratings.• And our stock market has registered record highs.

While these data speak of improving investor sentiments in the economy, anumber of risks continue to prevail. They will be critical to the country's long termeconomic prospects.

These risks include: (1) the looming debt crisis in Europe and sluggish growth inUS and Japan economies, (2) high fuel and energy costs, and (3) increased globalcompetition.

Mitigating these risks demand improved institutional coordination between localand national government agencies, and among government, business, and civil society.

Thus I am fortunate that under my watch as Speaker of the House ofRepresentatives, PCCI continues to play a very helpful role in policy and legislation.

One of the innovative mechanisms of our dialogue process is the regularmeetings we conduct with the business community. We have had these meetings withthe PCCI, various industry associations, and the Joint Foreign Chambers.

While our partnership has been fruitful for the most part, there are still significantsteps-somehow bold actions-which we must cooperate on to ensure that theintroduction of these reforms does not only offer short-term fixes, but also institutepermanent solutions to the recurring problems of our country.

To attain much higher and more consistent rates of growth to eventuallyeradicate poverty, we need to bring in more and better investments.

We need investments that will bring in capital and technologies that will keep ourworkers productively employed. We also need a bigger market to allow us to producemore and maximize the productive use of our resources.

Together with Senate President Enrile, I advocate for the review of certaineconomic provisions of our Constitution that restrict foreign investments and constrainour economic progress.

I am not proposing to change the restrictive economic provisions of ourConstitution overnight. What I am suggesting is for us to take the first step towardsrelaxing these restrictive economic provisions by allowing Congress to enact the lawsdefining foreign participation and nationality requirements in strategic sectors of oureconomy.



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We will not relinquish our sovereignty on the preservation of our God-givenresources. However, by allowing foreign participation and removing nationalityrequirements by legislative enactments, Congress can define and propose timely policyamendments, and we can give our economy a more responsive and robust policyenvironment within which to flourish.

Aside from amending the restrictive economic provisions of our Constitution, wehave included in the legislative agenda of the 15th Congress various measures toencourage the growth of both domestic and foreign investments.

In close collaboration with the Executive, we endeavored to promotemacroeconomic stability to boost business and investor confidence. Since the start ofthe 15th Congress, we have managed to pass the national government budget in timefor the next fiscal year. The episodes of re-enacted budget, which caused uncertaintiesand inefficiencies, are now things of the past.

Not only that we pass the budget on time, we have also exercised strong fiscaldiscipline in our deliberations on the budget. Though politically unpopular, we havereined in congressional insertions in the national government budget. We want to insurethat we do not pass bloated budgets that are not within our means.

To insure fiscal discipline in all agencies and instrumentalities of the government,we enacted the GOCC Governance Act of 2011 to curb abuses, and to promoteaccountability and efficiency in government owned and controlled corporations.

To sustain the government's fiscal position we have passed on third reading, therationalization of fiscal incentives, the reform of the excise tax on tobacco and alcohol,and the valuation reform act.

We have also used the national government budget to upgrade and modernizeour country's infrastructure. At present, national government spending on infrastructureand other capital projects stands at P252.4 billion, higher by nearly half of the previousyear's level. In the proposed national government budget for 2013, infrastructurespending is expected to grow further by 17.5 percent amounting to P296.7 billion.

To complement public spending on infrastructure, we are also pushing for theamendment of our BOT Law. It will facilitate private sector participation in theconstruction, operation, and maintenance of public utilities and infrastructure.

We also made conscious efforts to enhance social services and to strengthenhuman capital formation. I believe that an educated and skilled labor force is a majorsource of competitive advantage. Thus we endeavored to provide the biggest allocationof national government budget to education, health, and other social services.

In the past two years we have given social services, particularly education, thehighest share of the budget to promote human capital formation and broaden access to



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opportunities. The 2013 General Appropriations Act is not any different. We areallocating P698 billion or 34.8 percent of the national budget to social services.Education in particular will be receiving P329.4 billion or 16.4 percent of the totalbudget.

To enhance social protection particularly to the most vulnerable sector of oursociety, we are allocating P44.3 billion to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino (4Ps) toprovide conditional grants to extremely poor households.

As we have always stressed, the 4Ps is not a dole-out. It is investment in humancapital. Aside from assuring maternal health care, 4Ps insures that all children,especially those coming from poor families, will be healthier and more educated, andwill grow up to be productive members of society.

In addition to the general appropriations act, we have enacted RA 10157institutionalizing the Kindergarten Education into the Basic Education System, and RA

10165 strengthening and propagating foster care for abandoned and neglected childrenand children with special needs.

We have also approved on third reading the following bills: (1) instituting theLadderized Education Program, (2) establishing an open high school for out of schoolyouths and adults, and (3) implementing open learning through distance education.

Also, approved on 3rd reading is a bill providing a definite targeting strategy inidentifying the poor and the provision of mandatory health coverage.

Aside from measures to enhance the quality of our labor force, we have alsoworked to promote efficiency and reduce distortions in our labor market. We havepassed a law, Republic Act 10151, rationalizing the nightwork prohibition on womenworkers. We have also approved on third reading, the bill expanding the prohibited actsof discrimination against women on account of gender.

To attract more investments, we also need to expand our market. We mustencourage greater competition not only to improve the efficiency of our local producersand manufacturers in serving the domestic market but also, to boost their ability tocompete in the larger international market.

Thus we have approved on third reading, the bill creating the Office of thePhilippine Trade Representative, and the bill on the Customs Modernization and Tariffs

Act. We are also close to approving on second reading, the Anti-Trust or CompetitionPolicy, and the Pocket "Open Skies" Policy. Other measures included in our legislativeagenda on this matter are the bills on strengthening anti-smuggling provisions in thetariff and customs code, the rationalization of the charters of the Philippine Ports

Authority, MARINA and Civil Aeronautics Board.

We have also included in our legislative agenda certain measures to promoteinvestments in specific sectors of our economy. In particular, we have enacted the Anti-



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Cybercrime Act and the Data Privacy Act which could contribute to the growth of e-commerce and our BPO sector. Also approved by both houses of Congress is the billcreating the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

In the House of Representatives, we have also approved on third reading the

National Land Use and Management Act of the Philippines, the Sustainable ForestManagement Act, the Land Management Bureau Survey of Cadastral Lots, and theDelineation of Specific Forest Limits of the Public Domain.

Let me now touch on the flagship reform area of this administration: theelimination of corruption. Corruption is a major deterrent to investments. It reduces therate of return, and increases the risks of investments.

The United Nations estimates that more than 10 percent of the country's GNP islost to various forms of corruption. The Philippines is the fourth most corrupt amongsixteen Southeast Asian countries.

Paradoxically, this level of corruption co-exists with, and festers inspite of, thenumerous institutions that have been established to fight it. There are about thirty anti-corruption laws and more than fifteen agencies established to eradicate it.

This paradox reminds us that the drive against corruption necessitates acomprehensive approach that includes enhancing law enforcement, increasingprosecutorial success, and establishing a culture of transparency in government.

Towards these ends, we enacted into law the amendments to strengthen the Anti-Money Laundering Act. We have also passed on third reading at the House ofRepresentatives, the bills on strengthening the Witness Protection Act, and theWhistleblower's Protection Act. Also included in our legislative agenda in this area is theFreedom of Information Act.

In the same pursuit of good governance, we have introduced measures topromote a regime of peace and security. We enacted into law RA 10168 defining thecrime of financing terrorism. We have approved on third reading a bill defining themaritime zones of the Philippines, a bill establishing the archipelagic sea lanes, and abill lowering the age of criminal responsibility of minors.

To prevent human rights abuses, we have passed on third reading bills on antienforced or involuntary disappearance, human rights victims' compensation, andinternal displacement act.

In closing, government and business must continue to work together and keepthe reform process moving.



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The mid-term elections are scheduled next year. Let us not be distracted by politicalnoise. Let us focus on making our economy grow much further. Let us keep our eyesfocused on our common drive towards continued growth.

Once more, we are at a crossroads where we can either shrink back to mediocrity or

propel ourselves forward on a path trained towards sustained growth.

History is giving our country yet another opportunity for broad and inclusivedevelopment. Let us not waste this opportunity.

Today, let us start action on what needs to be done to make our country realize its long-held aspirations for greater prosperity.

Thank you very much to all of you.

May this Conference be a fruitful one.

I II . Speech du ring a Meeting with the Join t Foreign Chamb ers (14

November 2012)

It is again a distinct privilege to address all of you in the Joint Foreign Chambers.Our meetings have done much to establish and strengthen our working relationship.Specifically, our constant dialogues over the past two years have assisted the House inapproving measures considered as priority by your Chamber, namely: Amendments tothe Anti-Money Laundering Act, Common Carrier‘s Tax, Customs Modernization andTariffs Act, Land Use Policy, Sustainable Forest Management Act, UniversalHealthcare, and Whistleblower‘s Protection Act.

Indeed, we were able to better coordinate our reform initiatives, and move moreclosely towards common goals and directions—including those of sustaining the presentmomentum of growth and realizing more inclusive growth.

As you are all well aware, there is much to be pleased about on the matter of thePhilippine macroeconomy. Consider the following developments:

Average GDP growth in the first semester stood at 6.1 percent, making the year‘sprojected growth of 5 to 6 percent achievable.

The 2011 Debt-to-GDP ratio was at 50.9 percent, lower than that in 2010.

The Philippines‘ competitiveness rankings also continue to improve. In the WorldEconomic Forum‘s Global Competitiveness Report, we went up by 10 places in rankingas the 65th out of 114 economies.

All three major credit rating agencies (Moody‘s, Standard & Poors, and Fitch)have upgraded the Philippines‘ credit rating to only a notch below investment grade.



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As a result, it was widely reported in the newspapers and in international surveysthat business confidence in the country has been rising. According to the 2012 GrantThornton International Business Report, businesses in the Philippines remain veryoptimistic about the economy over the next 12 months.

Investment firm Religare Capital Markets also regarded the Philippines as thenew darling for investors, noting the strong macroeconomy and solid political situation.The group also remarked that the country is well positioned as an alternative investmentsite to China and Hong Kong, which continue to be hounded by corporate governanceissues.

But even without the official reports, the sense of rising optimism among thebusiness community can easily be detected. In the various business conferences andengagements I have recently attended, I can sense the growing confidence among thecountry‘s entrepreneurs. It is a confidence that is real and palpable, and one which I

hope can be nurtured and sustained.

However, this is no time to be complacent. Much work remains to be done. Tomy mind, there are two major challenges that need to be addressed over the mediumand long term.

The first challenge is enhancing the country‘s overall competitiveness.

While there have been significant gains in certain areas, such as macroeconomicenvironment and government institutions, there remain considerable weaknesses whichneed to be addressed, especially in the areas of infrastructure, health and primaryeducation, and labor market efficiency. This is according to the World EconomicForum‘s Global Competitiveness Report.

Meanwhile, power supply security concerns, along with high electricity pricesalso continue to hinder the country‘s competitiveness. Doing business remains an issueas evidenced by the country‘s decline in the World Bank‘s Doing Business Survey for2013.

The second challenge is creating more jobs and opportunities.

While GDP growth figures are certainly laudable, this should translate to more jobs generated. Jobs are the key to raising incomes, and evidence that growth is beingproperly translated.

How do we address these challenges? I believe there are five tasks we mustwork together to accomplish.

The first task is to sustain the robust macroeconomy.



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This entails keeping the fiscal house in order, and approving a national budgetthat is truly responsive to the needs and demands of the people. Indeed, we are on theright track towards our fiscal consolidation efforts as the national government managedto post a primary surplus, net of interest payments, amounting to P139.2 billion for theperiod of January to September 2012 while increasing disbursements by 14% for the

same period.

The House, for its part, passed on Third Reading the 2013 national budget lastOctober 15, after a series of marathon hearings. Surely you have observed thatensuring the swift passage of the budget has been a priority of the House for the pastthree fiscal years. Our tireless work on the budget has effectively allowed the country tostart the year with a new expenditure program which is needed to upgrade vitalinfrastructure such as ports and airports.

The second task is to focus on attracting new investments.

This means that economic restrictions of the Constitution have to be addressed,and the overall business environment has to be made more conducive to growth. Whileamendments to the economic provisions of the Constitution may not come sooner, Iearnestly believe that this should be given priority by the next Congress. We have torealize much higher levels of investments.

Higher investments will lead to the creation of much-needed jobs and provideconsumers with wider and better choices in goods and services.

The third task is to boost trade even further.

We need to make our products more competitive, find new markets, and expandexisting ones. Small and medium enterprises have to be provided with more support;they are the engines of the national economy. Further, our economy has to be moreknowledge-based. The continued support of key growth-enhancing sectors, such asbusiness process outsourcing and ICT should further be pursued, but moving up thevalue chain is likewise imperative.

The fourth task is to make our human capital our greatest asset.

We need to invest more in our people, provide them with better health andeducation, and make them stakeholders in the country‘s future. Under the socialservices budget of P698 billion for 2013, P329.4 billion will go to education, culture, andmanpower development while P169.3 billion is set aside for social security, welfare andemployment. This only shows that our prudent spending over the past years has nowallowed us to invest more on developing our human capital.

The fifth task is to establish a genuine peace and order situation.



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Businessmen need to feel more secure operating in our country. This can onlyhappen in a regime where there is greater transparency and accountability. The signingof the framework agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippinesand the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is therefore a welcome development.

The agreement, which was signed last October 15, 2012, defines the features of

the political settlement between the government and the MILF, and also defines thepowers of the Bangsamoro entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in MuslimMindanao. It is hoped that in 2016, the Bangsamoro political entity would have beenestablished, which shall be reflective of the aspirations and ideals of the people ofMindanao.

I am pleased to note that the priority bills being championed by the Joint ForeignChambers and the Philippine Business Groups, and our own legislative agenda,address these five major tasks that I have mentioned. Moreover I am proud to informyou that out of the 31 legislative proposals that we tabled for discussions in our previousmeetings, we already enacted three into law, approved 16 on third reading, and another

10 on second reading.

In closing, let me extend my deepest thanks to you -- the Joint ForeignChambers – for your support and cooperation in these last few years. Together, wewere able to make meaningful discussions on legislative priorities and come to a mutualunderstanding of what reforms are needed and how these reforms should be instituted.

It is my fervent hope that our cooperation will extend well into the next Congress.The reform process that we have worked on together should continue, and the seeds ofchange we planted should be nurtured to their very end.

Even as mid-term elections approach, let our focus and resolve to effectmeaningful reforms not waver. As I emphasized earlier, what the country needs is tobecome even more competitive and to create more jobs. Growth for the sake of growthwill never be enough.

Again, to my colleagues and fellow legislators, and to the members of the JointForeign Chambers and Philippine Business Groups, thank you all for your support.

IV. Remarks dur ing the Closing of the 15 th Congress (6 july 2013)

[Delivered during the closing of the Third Regular Session of the 15th Congress, 6 June2013]

Three years back, on July 2010, we convened the 15th congress of the House ofRepresentatives with one clear mission: to redeem the faith of our people in theirlegislature, and in their representatives to this House of the People, so they may



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believe, once again, that we - whom they vested with the power to speak for them, andthe authority to serve their interests - will honor their trust, at all cost, at all times.

Hon. Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.At this hour, as we bring the 15th Congress to aclose, with one voice, we can say to our people - mission accomplished!

We end this Congress confident in the truth that we have, by our unity inpurpose, sheer hard work and dedication to duty, won back a good measure of ourpeople's faith in our ability to give them a House they can trust, in a government thatunconditionally honors their trust.

We put in place, through responsive legislation, the key policy pillars for goodgovernance to achieve inclusive economic growth, people-centered political andadministrative reform, and social equity anchored on the imperative of securing thewelfare of the poorest of the poor.

In recognition of our labors, our people gave this House - through the threeregular sessions of the 15th Congress - the highest ever public approval ratings sincethe restoration of the Philippine legislature in 1987.

This achievement, my fellow representatives, is a badge of honor for everymember of the 15th Congress.

My dear colleagues, good governance by competent and upright leaders is thekey to economic growth, poverty reduction and social peace. Good governance setsand implements right policies effectively, combats corruption, curbs abuse of power,and makes government and its officials accountable.

It begins and ends with our commitment to make our government work betterevery day we serve. In this Congress, we were fortunate to work with an administrationthat pursued good governance as vigorously as we did.

From the doldrums, in barely three years, the country now rides the crest ofrenewed confidence, both here and abroad, in a government that kept its promise ofethical service to the people, and revitalized the national economy towardsunprecedented levels of growth and investor confidence.

For 2012, the Philippines posted a record 6.6% economic growth rate surpassingofficial growth targets. The growth rate for the first quarter of 2013 is even moreimpressive at 7.8%.

For the first time, the country received investment grade ratings from 3 majorcredit rating agencies, namely: Fitch Ratings, Standard and Poor's, and Japan CreditRating Agency.





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We allocated funds for key social welfare programs among which are thePantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the Supplemental Feeding for Daycare ChildrenProgram, the SEA-K or Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran Program, and SocialPension Programs for Indigent Senior Citizens.

The restructuring of the excise tax on alcohol and cigarette products will generateP35 billion more in annual revenues to boost funding for the national health insuranceprogram to achieve universal healthcare coverage for all Filipinos.

Social protection for the poor and marginalized was broadened with the landmarkKasambahay Law, the expanded foster care law for the benefit of abandoned,neglected and special children, and the juvenile justice reform law that rationalizes thecriminal liability of children in conflict with the law. We also increased welfare benefitsfor the elderly by increasing SSS pensions.

A sound financial sector is sustained by amendments we passed to the Anti-

Money Laundering Act, the Anti-terrorism Financing Act, the mended Rural Bank Actthat widens access to banking services in the countrysides. An amended InsuranceCode to strengthen the supervisory and regulatory functions of the InsuranceCommission will soon be sent to the President for his signature.

We exempted international carriers operating in the country from income taxfollowing the principle of reciprocity, and conducted substantive deliberations on theadoption of a partial open skies policy, an anti-trust law, and a comprehensive customsand tariff systems modernization law.

We created new regulatory frameworks with the ground breaking data privacylaw, the first ever Anti-Cybercrime Act, and an Anti-Illegal Cable TV and Cable InternetTapping Law.

To secure social peace and the rule of law, this Congress finally enacted the lawgranting compensation to victims of human rights violations during the martial lawregime. We also created more than 260 additional trial courts nationwide, and enactedthe revised AFP Modernization Act, the expanded Anti-trafficking of Persons Act, andthe Involuntary Disappearance Act.

In the arena of political and electoral reforms, we passed the ARMM ElectionsSynchronization Act, the Mandatory Biometrics Voter Registration Act, and the actdesignating accessible polling places for persons with disabilities and senior citizens.

Towards a more competent and ethical bureaucracy, we passed the GOCCGovernance Act, the Early Release of Retirement Benefits Act, the Act grantingappropriate civil service eligibilities to Sanggunian Members nationwide, and variousacts regulating the practice of selected professions.



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Industrial peace and economic productivity received a boost with the passage oflaws improving the intellectual property system, rationalizing the nightwork prohibitionon women workers, strengthening conciliation and mediation as modes of labor disputesettlement, and strengthening tripartism.

For the poor, education remains the most important means of escape frompoverty. Thus, we enacted three landmark education reform acts - the KindergartenEducation Act, the Early Years Act, and the K to 12 Basic Education Act which, togetherwith ladderized education, expand accessibility of educational opportunities for allFilipinos, especially the young .

My dear colleagues - I can go on enumerating what we accomplished in the 15thCongress. But, in the end, it is our performance record that will speak best for all of us.

While our accomplishments are many, much more needs to be done. Indeed, the16th Congress will have its hands full. I am confident that as we did in the 15th

Congress, through unity of purpose and disciplined work ethic as legislators, we shall,once again, overcome all challenges with flying colors.

Fond remembrances, congratulations and commendations are in order as webring this 15th Congress to a close.

I am sad that some of our longest serving legislators deserving of recognition andour collective commendation are not with us today.

We miss the presence of outstanding and esteemed colleagues who lent color,excitement and substance to proceedings of the House:

Hon. Salvador 'Tatay' Escudero III, Basic Ed Chair, who never missed a sessionday despite his illness,

Hon. Pedro 'Loloy' Romualdo who was among those who made the strongestprincipled opposition to the RH bill,

Hon. Antonio Diaz who helmed the Inter Parliamentary Relations Committee,

Hon. Ignacio T. Arroyo, Jr. who had served as Natural Resources Chair in thepast Congress,

Hon. Erico B. Aumentado who chaired our Ethics Committee and

Hon. Florencio I. Vargas, an esteemed veteran legislator of Cagayan.

Their lights may have gone out and their voices no longer heard in this chamber,but their legacy of service and statesmanship will continue to shine and inspire us.





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V. Ac ceptan ce Speech Upon re-election as Speaker (22 Ju ly 2013)

[Delivered upon his re-election as House Speaker during the opening of the FirstRegular Session of the 16 h Congress on 22 July 2013]

ESTEEMED colleagues, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen -

It is a rare honor to once more be entrusted with the Speakership of thisChamber. This grave responsibility was first reposed on me briefly in 2001, and again inthe 15th Congress.

Today, I am deeply humbled by your vote of confidence. I accept anew this duty,equally confident that, irrespective of our differing political affiliation, geographic orsectoral interest and persuasion, we will always stand strong and unified in our resolvenot merely to consolidate the gains thus far realized, but to move towards our greatfuture.

I pledge to honor that trust with a leadership that respects the voice of everymember in all proceedings of this chamber and upholds the integrity of this assembly asa democratic institution of government.

Mula sa puso, maraming salamat sa inyong pagtitiwala.

Whether re-elected or as new members of this Chamber, we all witnessed theback-breaking burden legislators of this House bore to discard practices of the past andsteer the country towards the proverbial matuwid na daan. In the past three years, itwas this House which overhauled the appropriations process, and built the habit of the

prompt enactment of a transparent and responsive national budget; this House whichrefused to shirk from the politically difficult task of impeachment and fortified theconstitutional promise of accountability in government.

The ratings achieved by this House in successive public trust surveys are notonly historic; they are likewise indicative of the transformation of this institution and ofour efforts to place our national constituency front, back and center of our legislativeagenda.

The remarkable improvements in the country's competitiveness rankings,governance indicators and corruption indices; the investment grade credit ratings

achieved under President Aquino; and the economic growths posted last year and in thefirst quarter of this year which are unsurpassed in the region are extraordinary featswhich we achieved even as the world around us grappled with a stale, if not contracting,international economy and immense political disturbances.

The greatest error we can commit today is to mistake the past three years asends in themselves, and not merely as a preview of the greater things to come.



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Our task in the next three years must be to resist the costly temptation of restingon our laurels, to inspire greater belief in our collective capacity for greateraccomplishment within our country and outside, and to marshal government resourcestowards making possible a more vibrant and resilient economy and people.

In close collaboration with the Senate and the Executive, we will craft alegislative agenda that will generate greater economic activity in our country.

Reducing the impediments to the ease of doing business even as we rationalizeour incentives framework, and creating a more even and stable regulatory frameworkthat will rid the private sector of its fears from funding our economic expansion,especially in such critical areas as power and energy, are essential if we are to sustainour growth and employ the jobless.

The habit of promptly enacting a national budget must be complemented by judiciousness in the use of public resources. The reprieve enjoyed by our people from

additional taxes can be sustained without substantially impairing our future growth andexpansion if efficiency in government spending is further strengthened andinstitutionalized in our appropriations act, and assiduously guarded through theoversight powers of this House.

Greater investment in public infrastructure and facilities must be encouraged,simultaneous with our concern for prudence in the use of public resources. As we passlaws that deter and close the avenues for corruption, so must we gain greaterconfidence in using public resources to address and anticipate the needs of ourexpanding economy.

We must nurture a legal ethos that mandates and extolls prudence in spending,and transparency and accountability in the use of public funds, especially in the use ofPriority Development Assistance Funds or PDAF. Ambiguity must yield to specific,definite and verifiable development programs and projects for both district and party-listfunded activities. A strict obedience to a much tightened guidelines in the use of publicresources is the strongest guarantee of efficiency, ensuring that each peso spentgenerates exponential returns for our people.

For my part, my PDAF, since first serving as member of this Chamber in 1992,were spent strictly within my district in Quezon City, subject always to public scrutiny,and sometimes to criticism.

The 16th Congress coincides with the second half of President PNoy's six yearterm. These three years are sometimes more difficult to manage because whiffs of thenext election hang in the air. This time might not be too different. Nevertheless, I callupon all of you, my colleagues, to unite behind this administration's and our reformagenda in the interest of our people so that the 16th Congress along with President

Aquino's term of office, ends, not with a strike out, but with a homerun.



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Reforms in governance cannot be neglected. Government leaders must nowaugment our "kung walang kurap, walang mahirap" battle cry with "walang kukurap,"and marshall greater support for the President's agenda towards a clean, honest,efficient and responsive public bureaucracy.

We must complete the modernization of our institutions and the processes theyadopt, and rid them of wastages which equally robs our people of essential publicservices. Until our accomplishments in the transformation of government becomeconvincingly irreversible, we can neither allow our present gains to be dissipatedmidstream nor frustrate anew the expectations of our people.

My colleagues, our beliefs and philosophies will undoubtedly require us to debateand disagree as we perform the legislative duties we will set up. But our democraticexperience in the past Congress – the Congress which courageously tackled some ofthe most controversial and divisive measures – should remind us that our differencescannot remotely justify the obstruction of urgent and necessary legislation, but must in

fact be used to enrich it.

With your help, ours will be a pro-active 16th Congress, one that refuses tosquander the accomplishments of our predecessors but builds on them that we mayfinally bridge the realities of the present to the promise of our future.

Ours will be a visionary Congress that will anticipate our needs and steer oureconomy to a path of sustained, but especially, equitable and inclusive growth.

Together with you, we will be that Congress worthy of the trust reposed upon itby the constituency who elected us - the Filipino people.

Maraming salamat sa inyo at mabuhay tayong lahat. Mabuhay ang bansangPilipinas!



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C. LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

I. 15 th Congress

HB01454 - PHILIPPINE IMMIGRATION ACT OF 2010

Main Referral : JUSTICE Committee

Status: Pending with the Committee on JUSTICE since 2010-08-02

Explanatory Note by the Speaker :



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HB04153 - AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES INTHE PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGIC WATERS, PRESCRIBING THE RIGHTSAND OBLIGATIONS OF FOREIGN SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT EXERCISING THERIGHT OF ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES PASSAGE THROUGH THEESTABLISHED ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES AND PROVIDING FOR THEASSOCIATED PROTECTIVE MEASURES THEREIN

Main Referral : FOREIGN AFFAIRS Committee

Status: Approved by the House on 2012-01-24, transmitted to on 2012-01-26 andreceived by the Senate on 2012-01-26

Explanatory Note by the Speaker :



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II. 16 th Congress

HB01134 - PHILIPPINE IMMIGRATION ACT OF 2013

Main Referral: JUSTICE

Status: Pending with the Committee on JUSTICE since 2014-03-04

Explanatory Note by the Speaker:



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D. RELEVANT NEWS ARTICLES

Romero, P. (2014, July 7). SB to SC: Show how P1.7-B judiciary fund was spent.The Phil ippine Star . Retrieved 8 July 2014 fromhttp://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/07/07/1343354/sb-sc-show-how-

p1.7-b-judiciary-fund-was-spent

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. is urging the Supreme Court todisclose to the public how it spent the P1.775-billion Judiciary Development Fund (JDF)amid moves from his colleagues to look into the disbursement of the discretionaryallocation of the judicial branch.

Belmonte, vice chairman of the ruling Liberal Party, denied the revival of the House‘smove to investigate the use of the JDF was in retaliation to an SC ruling declaring theP177-billion Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) as illegal and unconstitutional.

He said the chamber could be forced to look into the JDF should the SC not make adetailed report on how it has been using the fund for the sake of transparency.

―The Supreme Court should voluntarily disclose its receipts and expenditures, and notwait for any congressional inquiry,‖ Belmonte said.

Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., chairman of the House committee on justice, said his panelwould start its inquiry into the JDF as soon as Congress resumes session on July 28.

―Actually, the timing (of the investigation) is good because we have rulings on PDAFand DAP, and no one is above the law,‖ Tupas told dzBB.

Tupas and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali in December last year pushed for acongressional scrutiny of the JDF after the SC ruled the Priority Development

Assistance Fund or pork barrel fund of lawmakers as unconstitutional.

Umali at that time warned that SC magistrates would face impeachment if they would befound to have misused the JDF.

―The SC should make full accounting of the JDF fund. It‘s now time for Congress to lookinto the fund. We have to revisit the law creating it with the objective of amending orrepealing the law,‖ Tupas said, referring to Presidential Decree No. 1949.

Deputy Majority Leader and Citizens‘ Battle Against Corruption party-list Rep. SherwinTugna backed the investigation into the use of the JDF, saying ―all public funds shouldbe transparently accounted for, whether JDF, DAP or PDAF.‖

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo backed the planned probe but pushed for―prudence‖ since the move is widely seen by the public as getting back at the SC.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/07/07/1343354/sb-sc-show-how-p1.7-b-judiciary-fund-was-spent







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―The plan to push the Supreme Court to account for the JBC Fund could bemisconstrued as a way to get back at the high court,‖ Castelo said. ―The issue is timing.

Cabacungan, G. (2014, June 23). Speaker, 2 legislators say Aquino fairly handledpork scam cases. Phil ippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved 7 July 2014 from

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/613449/speaker-2-legislators-say-aquino-fairly-handled-pork-scam-cases

MANILA, Philippines –Leaders of the House of Representatives are satisfied with theunfolding prosecution of Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estradaand their coaccused in the pork barrel scam case, especially with President Aquinostaying on the sidelines as a neutral observer.

―Out of respect for colleagues, P-Noy avoided a personal hand but allowed the wheelsof justice to roll on. Just right, l think,‖ Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said on Sunday.

Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello said: ―I think the Department of Justice and the

Ombudsman have been fair, while Malacañang has tried not to have a high profile. Asfor swiftness, it‘s been just right, rejecting early calls for a rapid process.‖

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. gave credit to the President for allowing ―the wheels of justice [to move] in accordance with the procedure laid down by the law.‖

But Bello said the President should take a more proactive stance to ease fears that hehad been coddling his allies linked to the pork barrel scam.

―I think, though, that the administration should make sure that the public sees it asequally concerned about the investigation and prosecution of people allied to it. Thefuture of ‗daang matuwid‘ is at stake,‖ Bello said, referring to the administration‘santicorruption campaign.

Can they go to Sona?

Belmonte and Barzaga said it was up to the Sandiganbayan whether to allow Revilla orEstrada and Enr ile to attend the President‘s State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July28.

Just like the case of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo, who is detained in a hospital on corruption and electoral fraud charges, thethree senators are unlikely to be allowed to go to the Sona, Belmonte said.

―But if [Enrile‘s] petition for bail on [account of] his advanced age and ailments isallowed, he could still attend,‖ Belmonte said.

Barzaga said that while Enrile, Estrada and Revilla would remain senators despite theirindictment, it was still up to the Sandiganbayan to determine whether they could attendthe Sona.








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Dissatisfied

Despite the detention of Revilla and the imminent arrest of Estrada and Enrile, BayanMuna lawmakers remain discontented with the pace and scope of the pork barrel scam

prosecution.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said key allies of the President, specifically Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, remained―unscathed by any investigation.‖

―As it is, only the opposition is being hit and its members are threatened of beingarrested. Maybe some small fry allies of the President may also be sacrificed but not thebig fish. What would truly be a milestone is when an incumbent president is jailed forplunder or even just his big-time allies,‖ Colmenares said.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate cautioned the government against using thearrests of the senators to ―cover up‖ its inability to keep in check rising prices ofagricultural commodities.

―The government should keep this in mind and immediately act to lower the prices ofbasic goods and services. An anticorruption campaign, and a selective one at that,should not be used as an excuse for criminal negligence for higher prices,‖ Zarate said.

Cabacungan, G. (2014, June 14). Antidynasty bill faces ‗loosening up‘ in House.Phil ippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved 7 July 2014 fromhttp://newsinfo.inquirer.net/611212/antidynasty-bill-faces-loosening-up-in-house

MANILA, Philippines—Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. is looking into the possibility offixing the political dynasty limit to more than two family members in elective positions toensure the anti-political dynasty bill‘s passage in Congress.

But Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, one of the authors of the bill, said such revision wouldmake the reform ―pointless‖ and only institutionalize family rule in the country.

Erice‘s House Bill No. 3587 or ―An Act Prohibiting the Establishment of PoliticalDynasties‖ has been tackled in plenary debates that started last month. The Senate hasyet to come up with a counterpart bill.

Erice had proposed that a family should have only one member in an elective position,but he was open to a compromise cap of two to accommodate more than half of the 290members of Congress who have a child, a spouse, a parent or a sibling who is servingin an elective capacity.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/611212/antidynasty-bill-faces-loosening-up-in-house







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―I‘m pushing for a definite limit of more than two, just so as to get the antidynasty billpassed and comply with the constitutional mandate. I‘m confident future Congressescan tighten it up,‖ said Belmonte in a text message.

In a press conference Tuesday, Belmonte, whose daughter is the elected vice mayor of

Quezon City, said: ―I don‘t mind if it gets loosened up. Maybe even more than two aslong as it passes, because the Constitution demands that we pass an antidynasty bill. Ifwe pass an antidynasty bill now, which is not necessarily as strict as we would want it,I‘m sure it will affect somebody because some families are really so overextended.‖

Belmonte was hopeful that ―future Congresses‖ could tighten the bill down the roadbased on the prevailing public opinion.

―Public opinion is just laughing at us because they all think it will not happen. But if ithappens, future public opinion and Congress can weigh in,‖ said Belmonte. ―I‘m notreally as strict as the authors are, but I would like to see an antidynasty law approved.‖

In a text message, Erice said: ―There will be no reform if there are more than twobecause almost nobody will be affected… My position is, I cannot give in with more thantwo.‖

Erice noted that only 60 out of 290 members of the House have more than two familymembers in elected posts. Erice said that at least 180 members would be affected byhis original dynasty cap of one family member.

Belmonte said a dynasty cap of one has ―absolutely no chance‖ of passing in Congresswhile he doubted whether a dynasty cap of two would be enacted.

Cabacungan, G. (2014, June 14). Belmonte won‘t clear all lawmakers linked toscam. Phil ippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved 7 July 2014 fromhttp://newsinfo.inquirer.net/611216/belmonte-wont-clear-all-lawmakers-linked-to-scam

MANILA, Philippines—Speaker Feliciano Belmonte has refused to issue a sweepingstatement clearing of any wrongdoing the 100 past and present members of the LowerHouse tagged by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles as among her agents orbeneficiaries in her pork barrel scam.

―How can I say everybody here is clean? Of course, we don‘t know that,‖ said Belmontein response to calls from his fellow House leaders to make a strong statementdefending his colleagues dragged into the pork barrel scam by Napoles‘ affidavit used inher failed bid to get immunity for her and her children.

In a press conference a day before Congress adjourned its session Wednesday,Belmonte advised his peers to always be prepared and take appropriate measures

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/611216/belmonte-wont-clear-all-lawmakers-linked-to-scam







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especially since they were in a ―profession where to be mentioned in the media isalmost like being condemned.‖

―If this were to happen in some other profession, it doesn‘t matter. They‘ll just laugh it offand forget it. Here, your enemies will always repeat it. That is why I told my companions

here to be prepared and not just wait. Check your files and go to the COA (Commissionon Audit) and DBM (Department of Budget and Management). These are publicrecords,‖ said Belmonte. ―Some people did the same and found out that there is nosuch transfers of funds as being alleged.‖

Since part of the evidence submitted by whistle-blowers were Saros (or special releaseallotment orders released by the DBM indicating that budget items are ready fordeployment), Belmonte said that this ―implied‖ that the money which went to ghostfoundations and ghost projects were from legislators.

Cayabyab, M. (2014, June 12). 212 House bills passed at first session of

Congress—Belmonte. Phil ipp ine Daily Inqu irer . Retrieved 7 July 2014 fromhttp://newsinfo.inquirer.net/610765/212-house-bills-passed-at-first-session-of-congress-belmonte

MANILA, Philippines—The House of Representatives has approved 212 bills during itsfirst regular session of the 16th Congress, with both chambers passing five nationallaws.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said this in his speech before the Congress adjourns―on a hopeful note.‖

He added that the lower chamber also filed more than 1,000 proposed measures.―Our committees hit the ground running from the first day of this Congress to this hour toprocess and consolidate 1,097 measures to produce 328 committee reports…,‖Belmonte said.

―In 71 session days, we passed in plenary five Republic Acts, put onstream forpresidential approval 10 national bills, approved 212 bills on third reading, and adopted107 resolutions,‖ he added.

One of the measures awaiting the president‘s approval is the bill requiring the printing ofgraphic warnings on at least 40 percent of the cigarettes packs.

Also awaiting the Chief Executive‘s approval is a bill seeking free mobile alerts duringnatural calamities and manmade disasters.

The others are those that extend the life of the Philippine National Railways, strengthenconsumer protection in the purchase of new vehicles (―Lemon law‖), liberalize the entryand scope of foreign banks operations in the country, and promote the development ofmicro, small and medium enterprises or the Go Negosyo Bill.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/610765/212-house-bills-passed-at-first-session-of-congress-belmonte







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The other notable proposed laws passed on final reading is for the modernization ofweather bureau Pagasa, which includes increasing the salaries of its personnel; as wellas for increasing the prescriptive period for violations of the Anti-Graft and CorruptPractices Act to make it more difficult for public officials to evade accountability.

Meanwhile, education is a priority in the chamber, with at least 34 education billsapproved on final reading.

Among the notable ones are those for ladderized education, open distance learning inhigher education, unified student financial assistance system for higher technicaleducation, voluntary student loan program of private banks, open high school system,free college education in information and technology, and the installation of specialeducation centers in all public schools.

For agrarian reform, the chamber has approved bills to institutionalize credit support of

the Land Bank of the Philippines for agrarian reform beneficiaries, farmers andfisherfolk; promote soil and water conservation technologies for sustainable landmanagement, strengthen the regulatory functions of the Bureau of Fisheries; and toinstitute a national land use policy.

For health, the House passed bills for mandatory PhilHealth coverage for seniorcitizens, pre-hospital emergency medical care, and a price list from health care facilitiesof health care services.

―I can go on enumerating what we accomplished – but, let it suffice to state that the firstregular session of the 16th Congress bore witness to a House that is at work despite thedifficult changes we faced,‖ Belmonte said. The House of Representatives was faced with allegations that over 150 solons wereincluded in the list of pork barrel scam beneficiaries furnished by principal whistleblowerBenhur Luy. Janet Lim-Napoles had also furnished a list of at least 69 representativestagged in the scam.

Plunder and graft charges were filed against lawmakers, officials and accusedmastermind Napoles purportedly involved in the scam.

The scam involved billions of Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) allegedlyspent on ghost projects to pocket commissions among lawmakers, officials andNapoles.

The practice of allotting billions of public funds to lawmakers for them to ease poverty intheir constituencies was struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional at theheight of the investigation on the scam.



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Cayabyab, M. (2014, June 12). House can‘t stay quiet on pork barrel scam–Belmonte. Phi l ippine Dai ly Inquirer . Retrieved 7 July 2014 fromhttp://newsinfo.inquirer.net/610730/house-cant-stay-quiet-on-pork-barrel-scam-belmonte

MANILA, Philippines – Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the House ofRepresentatives cannot remain silent on ―baseless‖ accusations against it over thePriority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) scam.

―We cannot speak away nor remain silent on the unremitting assaults to the integrity ofthis House and of its members, often without basis, in the wake of the PDAFcontroversy,‖ Belmonte said in his privilege speech as the chamber adjourned its firstregular session under the 16th Congress.

But the scam should not sway legislators from their mandate as ―representatives of ourconstituencies,‖ he added.

―This, our work in this first regular session, must and should speak eloquently for us aspublic servants, and as representatives of our constituencies to the best we can do,‖Belmonte said.

The Speaker said only their performance as legislators would prove their ―fidelity to ourpeople‘s trust.‖

―We have two years remaining in this 16th Congress to continue to make ourperformance speak for us and for this House,‖ Belmonte said.

The Speaker had opposed moves for the House to start a probe on their owncolleagues tagged in the scam, even as its Senate counterpart has concluded its own.The Philippine Daily Inquirer published names of over 150 past and presentrepresentatives alleged to be involved in the scam according to the records of principalwhistleblower Benhur Luy.

Meanwhile, the incumbent solons tagged in the list furnished by alleged mastermindJanet Lim-Napoles are: Pampanga Rep. Oscar Rodriguez, Cebu Rep. Gerald Gullas,Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla, Cebu City Rep. Raul Del Mar, Compostela ValleyRep. Rommel Amatong, Laguna Rep. Joaquin Chipeco Jr., Lanao Del Norte Rep.

Abdullah Dimaporo, Abono party-list Rep. Conrado Estrella III, Bukidnon Rep. FlorencioFlores, Masbate Rep. Scott Davies Lanete, An Waray Rep. Neil Benedict Montejo, LaUnion Rep. Victor Ortega, Abante Mindanao Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr., Cagayan deOro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, and Davao CityRep. Isidro Ungab.

The Ombudsman has already filed plunder charges against Senators Bong Revilla,Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce-Enrile, accused mastermind Napoles, and otherpersonalities for their purported participation in the scam.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/610730/house-cant-stay-quiet-on-pork-barrel-scam-belmonte







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The pork barrel in the form of PDAF has been seen as a tool for political patronage andcorruption.

The practice of allotting billions of public funds to lawmakers for them to ease poverty intheir constituencies was struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional at the

height of the investigation on the scam.

Romero, P. (2014, May 19). Congress running out of time for Bangsamoro Law.The Phil ippine Star . Retrieved 7 July 2014 fromhttp://digitaledition.philstar.com/newspaper/showArticle/55087/share/Congr ess-running-out-of-time-for-Bangsamoro-Law/

Congress is running out of time to scrutinize and approve the proposed BangsamoroBasic Law as it has yet to receive the document from Malacañang that seeks toestablish a new autonomous region in Mindanao next year, leaders of the House of

Representatives warned yesterday.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said he wants the House to have enough time to reviewthe proposed law to help in ensuring lasting peace and prosperity in southernPhilippines.

―No word yet from the Palace,‖ Belmonte said.

―Once I get one, I will study it as soon as possible. We will ensure that it will qualify andpass our Constitution,‖ he added.

The Bangsamoro Transition Commission submitted the draft of the document toMalacañang last month, but President Aquino‘s spokespersons said the proposed lawwould have to undergo another review.

House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II warned thatevery day of delay in submitting the proposed law means less time for lawmakers tostudy it and make sure it is not declared as unconstitutional.

―We want to discuss and deliberate it now before we adjourn again next month,‖Gonzales said as he reiterated some of the steps to be taken by the House to speed upsuch as forming an ad hoc panel composed of various committees to review thedocument.

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, leader of the independent bloc, said theHouse must address serious concerns raised by Philippine Constitution Association(Philconsa) that reviewed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB)and its annexes.

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Philconsa chairman and retired justice Manuel Lazaro earlier briefed lawmakers on theconstitutional issues of the CAB and its annexes that will comprise the proposed law.

―Up to now, we don‘t have a draft bill but based on the perusal of the annexes, there areprovisions that will not pass the test of constitutionality if we do not amend the

Constitution,‖ Romualdez said.

Lazaro said the country is faced with a situation where Malacañang has committed thatCongress and the judiciary will uphold the CAB.

―So, what we have right now is a case of putting the cart before the horse. What shouldbe done is to have first the Bangsamoro Basic Law to be passed by Congress and,thereafter, since there are provisions that require an amendment or a revision of theConstitution, that is again another matter,‖ he said.

Basilan Rep. Jim Hataman-Salliman, chairman of the committee on peace,

reconciliation, and unity, earlier said the chamber must act quickly and thoroughly onthe document to ensure its passage in time for scheduled holding of a plebiscite on thenew autonomous region in Mindanao later this year.

He said Congress is working on tight schedule with the aim of having the BangsamoroTransition Authority in place by January 2015, assuming the proposed law is approvedin the plebiscite and is not derailed by petitions filed before the Supreme Court.

By 2016, elections of officials of the new Bangsamoro autonomous government will beheld to coincide with the national and local polls.

_____. (2014, May 1). Belmonte wants calls for wage hikes out of lower House.

Phil ipp ine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://newsinfo.inqui

rer.net/598825/belmonte-wants-calls-for-wage-hikes-out-of-lower-house

MANILA, Philippines—Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said moves to increase theminimum wage should be brought to the wage boards instead of to the House ofRepresentatives, Inquirer Radio 990AM reported on Thursday, Labor Day.

The report quoted Belmonte as saying the fight for wage increase should be donethrough wage boards and not through lawmakers.

According to the Wage Rationalization Act, Regional Tripartite Wages and ProductivityBoard across the country will determine the minimum wage rates under the authority ofthe National Wages and Productivity Commission.

Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc were among those who took it to the lower Houseto push for the passage of a legislated wage hike.



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Under the Aquino administration, minimum wage increases in select regions range fromP13 to P62 since 2010.

Romero, P. (2014, April 30). No need to ratify defense deal – SB. The Phil ipp ine

Star . Retrieved 7 July 2014 fromhttp://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/04/30/1317650/no-need-ratify-defense-deal-sb

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. believes the Enhanced DefenseCooperation Agreement (EDCA) signed by the Philippine and US governments does notneed Congress‘ approval for its implementation.

In an interview yesterday, Belmonte said the EDCA is constitutional as it was based onthe previous security agreements of the two countries.

―Actually, it‘s just an enhancement of various existing treaties with the US,‖ Belmontesaid, referring to the military assistance agreement between the Philippines and US in1949, the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, and the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement.

Muntinlupa City Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, chairman of the House committee on nationaldefense and security, said the Constitution mentions three conditions that may bepresent in an agreement that requires concurrence of the Senate.

Biazon said under the Constitution, an agreement would need the approval of theSenate if it is political in nature, permanent and requires changing some existingnational policies. He said the EDCA is neither political nor permanent, as it is valid onlyfor 10 years, and apparently does not require any change in policies.

―I would not want to preempt the Senate but Malacañang must provide Congress withcopies of the EDCA so we can find out the role Congress must play in implementing thisagreement,‖ Biazon said. He said there is another factor that is not mentioned in theConstitution, which is the legislative aspect of the implementation of any agreement.

―For example, if we will allow the use of our military facilities, there might be a need toundertake major construction. Who will spend for that?‖

Biazon said if the Philippine government would have to spend, such as in the wideningof an airstrip or construction of bigger ports, this would require Congress to appropriatefunds for the purpose.

Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian said EDCA would help the government‘s disasterresponse efforts, particularly in times of calamities.

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He said aside from strengthening military cooperation, EDCA seeks to promotemaritime security and domain awareness as well as humanitarian assistance anddisaster response (HADR).He said the government should look closely into the HADR aspect of the agreement.

―The government should put more emphasis on the disaster preparedness andresponse of this agreement. We should learn from their advanced logistical know-howso we can improve our capability,‖ he said.

Gatchalian pointed out that EDCA was signed a month before the onset of the rainyseason. ―The rainy season is only a month away and we cannot stop nature fromcreating another Yolanda. We must watch and learn from the US and make the most ofwhat they can offer in terms of disaster response within the boundaries of the EDCA.‖

Meanwhile, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III joined his fellow senators in supporting the EDCAas a deterrent against acts of foreign aggression. – With Jess Diaz, Marvin Sy

Desiderio, L. (2014, April 24). Amendments to eco provisions of Constitutionurged. The Phil ippine Star . Retrieved 7 July 2014 fromhttp://www.philstar.com/business/2014/04/24/1315317/amendments-eco-provisions-constitution-urged

MANILA, Philippines - The Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) is urging Congressto amend economic provisions in the Constitution to promote inclusive growth andstrengthen national security.

In a statement yesterday, the FEF said Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.‘s proposal tointroduce changes to the economic provisions of the Constitution would be beneficial inthe country‘s goal of making the strong economic growth benefit more people andachieving national security.

―We call on Congress to promote inclusive growth, reduce poverty, generate jobs,improve consumer welfare, enhance competition, modernize our strategic infrastructure,and strengthen our national security in an all-around way by passing the Belmonte bill toamend the Constitution,‖ the group said

Belmonte‘s resolution seeks to insert the phrase ―unless otherwise provided by law‖ to Articles XII (national economy and patrimony), XIV (education, science and technology,arts, culture and sports), and XVI (general provisions) for Congress to be able to easerestrictions on foreign ownership in certain industries in the future.

The group said the proposal would provide the key to opening up areas of the economyto more foreign investments, thereby providing more competition, facilitating technologytransfer, generating jobs, and improving consumer choice.

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The country‘s strong economic growth, which has been driven primarily by domesticconsumption, has not led to more jobs and reduced poverty.

―Through the restrictive limits set in our Constitution, we are signalling to foreigninvestors that they are not we come, especially in critical areas like the establishment

and operation of public utilities,‖ the FEF said.

The group said enabling Congress to open up areas of the economy currently prohibitedby the Constitution would also strengthen national security.

―By increasing foreign direct investments, the country will increase the economicinterest of our friends and allies in the international community to maintain our territorialintegrity and to uphold freedom of navigation in the West Ph ilippine Sea,‖ the groupsaid.

Well-capitalized foreign companies can help modernize and provide competition in

strategic sectors of the economy like seaports, airports, telecommunications, shipping,and air transport which are vital for the country‘s nat ional security.

―If well-capitalized world-class companies are allowed to own and operate public utilitieslike airports, seaports, shipping, and telecommunications beyond the present limit of 40percent set by the Constitution, the quality and quantity of bidders for PPP (Public-Private Partnerships) will dramatically improve. This can only auger well for PPPProjects particularly in strategic infrastructure,‖ the FEF said.

Salaverria, L. (2014, April 16). Moro basic law priority. Phil ipp ine Daily Inquirer .Retrieved 7 July 2014 from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/594569/moro-basic-law-priority

The House of Representatives will give priority to the draft Bangsamoro basic law, butwill not completely sideline other important measures pending in the plenary, SpeakerFeliciano Belmonte said on Tuesday.

In a text message to the Inquirer, Belmonte also said he hoped to have the draft lawapproved on third and final reading by the end of the year.

The Palace is expected to submit the Bangsamoro bill to Congress when it resumessessions on May 5.

―We will give it priority but not exclusivity,‖ Belmonte said when asked if deliberations onother measures will be stopped once the Bangsamoro bill reaches the floor.

The bill would create a Bangsamoro autonomous region that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), fleshing out the peace agreement

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signed by the administration of President Aquino with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front(MILF) last month.

Malacañang and the MILF, the largest rebel organization in Mindanao, expect theBangsamoro basic law to be challenged in the Supreme Court, but both believe it can

stand legal scrutiny.

The Palace said Tuesday that it remained optimistic that the new Bangsamoroautonomous region would be established before President Benigno Aquino III stepsdown in 2016.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said the Palace legal team reviewing thedraft law was ―familiar‖ with it, having been consulted by members of the governmentpeace panel during negotiations with the MILF.

―There is a sense of urgency in being able to complete this review because we are all

aware of the indicative timetable,‖ Coloma told reporters at a briefing in the Palace.

―Even while the [peace] agreement was being negotiated, the [government] panel wasconsulting regularly with the same panel that is now reviewing the draft law. So we canbe [sure] that the people [doing the review] are quite familiar with the agreement,‖ hesaid.

Earlier, leaders of both houses of Congress committed to the government timetable ofpassing the basic law by the end of the year.

Plebiscite After passage, the basic law would be submitted for approval in a plebiscite in areas inthe south that are proposed to be included in the Bangsamoro autonomous region.The composition of the new autonomous region will be based on the outcome of theplebiscite. Residents of the areas proposed to be included in Bangsamoro will decidewhether they want to be part of the new autonomous region.

Core territory

The ―core territory‖ of Bangsamoro will include the five provinces within the ARMM andMarawi City. It will also include the cities of Cotabato and Isabela, and the sixmunicipalities in Lanao del Norte province that voted to become part of the ARMM in aplebiscite in 2001 (Baloi, Munai, Pantar, Nunungan, Tagaloan and Tangkal).

Thirty-nine villages in six North Cotabato towns that voted to be included in the ARMMwill also be part of the proposed Bangsamoro. The six towns are Labacan, Carmen,

Aleosan, Pigkawaya, Pikit and Midsayap.

The goal is to hold the election for members of the Bangsamoro assemblysimultaneously with the national elections in 2016.



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The elected Bangsamoro assembly members will then elect a chief minister amongthemselves.

The chief minister will be the head of the Bangsamoro ministerial government.

Submitted to Palace

Mohagher Iqbal, head of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, on Mondaysubmitted to Malacañang the draft of the basic law, which was based on theComprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed on March 27.

Coloma said he would check whether Iqbal submitted a complete document.

Pending verification, he said, ―what is most important … is that the legal team will beable to do everything that is necessary to be able to submit the draft bill to the President

for his own review and approval.‖

―Throughout the entire pr ocess, the [government] and [the] MILF panels have exercisedthe requisite due diligence, industry and determination in order to complete theagreement and in order to bring it to where it is now,‖ Coloma said.

―So I think we can say with a reasonable degree of confidence that there is reason to beoptimistic that the timetable can be met,‖ he said.

The House will resume work on several crucial measures when it returns from itsLenten break.Plenary deliberations are expected on the controversial constitutional amendment andantipolitical dynasty bills, and the budget bill is also expected to be submitted toCongress later in the year, most likely after President Aquino‘s State of the Nation

Address.

FOI bill

Proponents of the freedom of information (FOI) bill are also hoping to have it approvedat the committee level and put through debate before the Bangsamoro bill reaches thefloor.

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat on Tuesday said the FOI bill may not be shunted aside infavor of the Bangsamoro bill, as the information measure was in a more advancedstage.

The Bangsamoro bill is expected to face scrutiny by the minority and several Mindanaolegislators as well as constitutionalists, Baguilat noted, which means it may not clear thecommittee level immediately.



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The FOI bill is also still pending with the committee on public information, but Baguilatsaid that as long as its proponents stick to their game plan and the chair sets regularmeetings, there should be no problem in getting the measure out of the committee.Earlier, Belmonte promised that the FOI bill would be approved by the House before theend of his term.

_____ . (2014, April 12). House won‘t allow abortion bill – Speaker Belmonte.Phil ippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved 7 July 2014 fromhttp://newsinfo.inquirer.net/593881/house-wont-allow-abortion-bill-speaker-belmonte

MANILA, Philippines – Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the House ofRepresentatives would not allow an abortion bill, allaying fears that such legislationwould follow the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) law.

―The idea of having an abortion bill is very far -fetched and involves playing God to the

unborn which is a role we will not play,‖ Belmonte said in a statement.

He added that such a bill ―also runs counter to our principle of aiming to improve thelives of our people.‖

―It is not and cannot ever be in our agenda,‖ Belmonte said.

In a report, retired archbishop Oscar Cruz expressed said he fears that an abortion billmay follow the RH law, which was ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court despitepetitions against it.

The controversial law mandates the government to provide access to family planningmethods such as contraception, a sensitive topic in this predominantly Catholic country.Belmonte also allayed fears that an even more controversial legislation that wouldlegalize gay marriage may follow. Congress has yet to file such a bill, and Belmontesaid this is merely ―speculation.‖

Meanwhile, an equally contentious measure that seeks to legalize divorce is still in themiddle of the legislative mill, Belmonte said.

The Speaker also refused to comment on the bill as it will still go through the legislativeprocess.

―While a Divorce Bill has been indeed filed, my personal views on the issue as well asthose of my colleagues will be irrelevant at this point because like any measure filed, itwill have to go through the regular legislative process,‖ Belmonte said.

―This means that thorough studies, committee and possible public hearings will still beheld before the bill reaches final congressional approval,‖ he added.

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Under the 15th Congress, Gabriela party-list Representatives Luzviminda Ilagan andEmmi De Jesus filed House Bill 1799, which seeks to legalize divorce. But the measurewas stuck in the committee level.

The militant solons said they would refile the bill in the 16th Congress, but they have yet

to do so.Rep. Ilagan told INQUIRER.net they would refile it when the chamber resumes sessionin May.

―We just updated the data in the explanatory note… But the provisions basicallyremained the same,‖ Ilagan said.

Diaz, J. (2014, April 7). Bangsamoro law will be constitutional – Belmonte. The

Phil ippine Star . Retrieved 7 July 2014 fromhttp://digitaledition.philstar.com/newspaper/showArticle/49286/share/Bang

samoro-law-will-be-constitutional-Belmonte/

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. assured the nation yesterday that the law creating anew Bangsamoro region in Mindanao, which the House of Representatives and theSenate would soon pass, would be constitutional.

―We are certainly working on the theory that its constitutionality can be assured,‖ hesaid in response to apprehensions expressed by some lawmakers that the peace dealwith the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which would be carried out through a law,runs counter to the Constitution.

The draft legislation on the new region would soon be submitted to the House and theSenate.

Belmonte said the autonomy to be extended to the region would be within the context ofone sovereign nation.

―There will be autonomy for the establishment of the Bangsamoro juridical entity but wewill remain as one sovereign nation,‖ he said.

―All discussions to be made will be guided by existing laws and consistent with theprovisions of the Constitution. National sovereignty is not an issue here because it willnot be violated. The supremacy of the Constitution will always be upheld during thedeliberations on the proposed law,‖ he added.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., one of the leaders of the House majority coalition, saidhe and his colleagues would make sure that the Bangsamoro law would comply with theConstitution.

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―Congress will carefully deliberate on the proposed law for the establishment of theBangsamoro to avoid legal infirmities that may jeopardize the peace talks with theMILF,‖ he said.

He said he and his colleagues could either scrap or rewrite the provisions that are

deemed constitutionally questionable.

For his part, Rep. Sherwin Tugna of party-list group Citizens Battle Against Corruptionsaid criticisms from all sectors, including those of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, ―areat the moment premature and speculative.‖

Santiago has branded the peace agreement as unconstitutional, as it would erode thepowers of the central government.

―At this point, Sen. Santiago‘s statement is speculative at best. Congress has yet toapprove the Bangsamoro basic law, which will be the legal framework for the

implementation of the peace agreement. We should make sure that such law wouldhurdle all constitutional questions,‖ he said.

Earlier, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, another majority coalition leader,said Congress should correct whatever constitutional flaws there are in the peace dealand the law that would implement it.

―We will have the opportunity to correct whatever defects there may be in thisagreement so that we can save the peace process for the sake of the people ofMindanao, especially those of Central Mindanao,‖ he said.

Rodriguez, a former law dean, said he, like Santiago, would not support a proposedbasic law that would violate the Constitution.

―As I have told the House committee on peace and reconciliation and the committee onMuslim affairs, when the draft of the basic law is submitted to the House, we will have tomake sure that it conforms with the Constitution,‖ he said.

He said he made this point clear with the MILF negotiators and the government panel.

He recalled that the government negotiators assured congressmen that they strictlyfollowed President Aquino‘s instruction that all provisions of the agreement shouldcomply with the Constitution.

Bacani, L. (2014, March 11). Belmonte: Hang me if this House fails to pass FOI.The Phil ippine Star . Retrieved 7 July 2014 fromhttp://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/03/11/1299695/belmonte-hang-me-if-house-fails-pass-foi

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MANILA, Philippines - While he just said it in jest, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.assured on Tuesday that the House of Representatives will approve the Freedom ofInformation (FOI) Bill during the 16th Congress.

In a press conference, a transcript of which was sent to media outfits, Belmonte said

they are "working on it (FOI bill)" and reiterated his promise to pass the measure in thepresent Congress.

"Well, ang ipinangako ko during the 16th Congress. Bitayin ninyo ako kung matapos itoat hindi pa nakakapasa," Belmonte said with a laugh.

Senator Grace Poe, author of the Senate-approved FOI bill, said she is confident withBelmonte's promise.

"Pero ako naman ay kumpyansa na merong minungkahi si Speaker Sonny [Belmonte]na sabi nya na within the 16th Congress ay papasa yung FOI sa lower house. Para sa

'kin isang malaking development na rin yan," she told reporters on Monday.

The Senate approved the FOI Bill only a week after it hurdled the period of amendmentsand was passed on second reading.

But there are doubts if the controversial measure will receive the same speedytreatment in the lower chamber, where Belmonte's proposal to amend the Constitutionseems to be among the priorities.

According to the Congress website, the lone FOI bill filed in the House ofRepresentatives was authored by Laguna 3rd District Rep. Sol Aragones, a former

journalist.

After its filing on January 27, the bill was referred to and read by the Committee onPublic Information last February 3.

During that same month, Malacañang pointed out that Congress has never approved anFOI bill.

"We are awaiting the action that the Senate will take on the matter since it is also anindependent body," Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary HerminioColoma Jr. said.

At a televised press briefing on Tuesday, Coloma renewed calls for the quick passageof the FOI bill. However, he reiterated that President Benigno Aquino III won't certify themeasure as urgent since he is "very circumspect in the use of presidential power."

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openness, transparency, full disclosure, at accountability of public officials. Batid natin‗yung hinggil sa seal of transparency," Coloma said.

After their sessions tomorrow, both chambers of Congress will be on a seven-weekLenten break and will reconvene on May 5.

Salaverria, L. (2014, March 4). Charter change bill takes off in House. Phi l ippine

Daily Inquirer . Retrieved 7 July 2014 fromhttp://newsinfo.inquirer.net/582115/charter-change-bill-takes-off-in-house

MANILA, Philippines—Charter change took a step closer to reality with the approval onMonday of a resolution to amend the protectionist provisions and foreign participationlimits in the Constitution, despite dire warnings from local businessmen and legalexperts.

The House committee on constitutional amendments approved the measure

overwhelmingly, with 24 congressmen voting in its favor, two objecting and oneabstaining.

The resolution, principally authored by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, would add thephrase ―unless otherwise provided by law‖ to the Constitution‘s articles concerning thenational economy and patrimony; education, science, technology, arts, culture andsports; and general provisions.

This would not automatically remove the foreign ownership and participation limits asstipulated in the Charter. Congress would still have to pass laws to lift the restrictions,and they may do this for the constitutional provisions that prevent foreigners fromoperating public utilities and educational institutions, and from undertaking activities todevelop or utilize the country‘s natural resources, for example.

Belmonte and the other proponents of the resolution had touted it as a tool to increaseforeign direct investment to boost the economy.

With the approval, the resolution would now move to the plenary for deliberations.Should it be approved by the House, it would be forwarded to the Senate.

Once the Senate approves it, the measure would be subject to a plebiscite.

Consultations first

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares had objected to the vote, saying publicconsultations all over the country should be completed first.

Colmenares also disagreed with the substance of the resolution, adding that allowinggreater participation by foreign investors in the country‘s affairs would not necessarilylead to progress and might be even detrimental to the country.

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Economic and legal experts were also divided on the issue, he noted.

But foreign businessmen had vigorously supported Belmonte‘s resolution, saying thatmore foreign investments would help modernize the country‘s infrastructure and boost

its defense capability.They said the proposed amendment would also allow for more flexibility in the country‘seconomic policies and allow it to respond to changes brought about by globalization.

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop), however, had warned that thiscould lead to instability, as the economic provisions and policies could be amended atany time, subject to the whims of the lawmakers. The fundamental law of the land wouldalso be reduced to the level of ordinary legislation, Ecop pointed out.

Joint assembly

Ecop further warned that future Congresses might also insert the phrase ―unlessotherwise provided by law‖ to the social and political aspects of the Constitution.

Legal experts had also expressed reservations about the process the House followed.Retired Supreme Court Justices Reynato Puno and Vicente Mendoza had said it wouldbe better if both houses of Congress met in joint assembly and voted separately totackle proposals to amend the Constitution.

They also expressed concern about the proposal in the Charter change resolution toadd the phrase ―unless otherwise provided by law‖ to the Constitution‘s economicprovisions, with Mendoza saying this would make the provisions subject to change byCongress anytime, and would thus render the constitutional policies ―tentative anduncertain.‖

But retired Justice Adolf Azcuna and constitutionalist Joaquin Bernas, both members ofthe commission that drafted the 1987 Constitution, took the position that Congress neednot necessarily meet in a joint assembly to propose the changes.

Azcuna also supported Belmonte‘s Charter change proposal, saying it would make theeconomic provisions flexible.

Romero, P. (2014, February 27). Belmonte reiterates need for Charteramendments. The Phil ippine Star . Retrieved 7 July 2014 fromhttp://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/02/27/913620/belmonte-reiterates-need-charter-amendments

MANILA, Philippines - The country‘s growth is on the right track but much remains to bedone, including by Congress, to make sure the economy would not be derailed,Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said yesterday.

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In his keynote speech during the second anniversary forum of ―Arangkada Philippines‖organized by the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) and its partner organizations, Belmontereiterated the need for amendments to the 1987 Constitution to attract more foreigninvestments and create jobs.

He said the 15th Congress and the JFC have been part of the country‘s positivedevelopments, including the downtrend in the external debt to GDP ratio, increasedperformance of the manufacturing and services sector, as well as the improvedgovernance and anti-corruption rankings.

The Speaker said the 15th Congress has enacted 213 national bills into laws aimed atattracting investments, promote transparency, and raise revenues.

These include the Sin Tax Reform Act, Data Privacy Act, People‘s Survival Fund, Anti -Terrorist Financing Act and amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Belmonte said several other key measures are just awaiting President Aquino‘ssignature, including the bills pushed by the JFC such as the rationalization of taxes oninternational carriers; strengthening of the National Electrification Administration;encouraging conciliation and mediation in labor disputes; amendments to the intellectualproperty code; and universal health care coverage.

Sabillo, K. (2014, February 20). Palace: Aquino not buying Belmonte‘s view onCharter change. Phil ippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved 7 July 2014 fromhttp://newsinfo.inquirer.net/579377/palace-aquino-not-buying-belmontes-view-on-charter-change

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III does not agree with SpeakerFeliciano Belmonte Jr. when it comes to amending the Constitution, Malacañang saidThursday.

―I suppose Speaker Belmonte has a position different from the President,‖ presidentialspokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during a regular press briefing.

Lacierda said Aquino is maintaining his position ―that there is no need to amend theeconomic provisions of the Charter‖ amid Belmonte‘s endorsement of Charter change inthe House of Representative.

He reiterated the President‘s explanation that the economy is doing well at present,even without constitutional amendments. He also mentioned China, which was oftencited by the President as a country that continues to grow despite its prohibition onforeign ownership of land.

Belmonte, a known administration ally, has been pushing for Charter change as apriority measure in the lower house.

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Romero, P. (2013, October 15). Belmonte pushes passage of Fair CompetitionAct. The Phil ippine Star . Retrieved 7 July 2014 fromhttp://www.philstar.com/business/2013/10/15/1245265/belmonte-pushes-

passage-fair-competition-act

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. is seeking the swift enactment ofhis proposed Philippine Fair Competition Act of 2013 that aims to minimize unfaircompetition and dismantle monopolies and cartels to protect consumers and theeconomy from powerful business interests.

Belmonte‘s House Bill 1133 is pending at the House Committee on Trade and Industrychaired by Las Piñas City Rep. Mark Villar. It is a refiled measure of HB 4835 of the15th Congress with some improvements.

The Speaker said the measure ―aims to encourage fair and free economic competitionby prohibiting the abuse of market dominant positions and the excessive concentrationof economic power by regulating improper concerted acts and unfair business practices,thereby stimulating creative business activities, protecting consumers and promoting thebalanced development of the national economy.‖

―The economy continues to be dominated by groups of businesses with substantialmarket power and political influence. Also, competition in the domestic market remainsrestricted in key sectors,‖ Belmonte said.

He said the 1987 Constitution expressly provides that ―the State shall regulate orprohibit monopolies when the public interest so requires.‖ The Constitution alsostipulates that ―no combinations in restraint of trade or unfair competition shall beallowed.‖

Belmonte said despite the constitutional guarantees and the existence of laws thataffect competition, such laws have proven to be inadequate.

He cited the lack of genuine competition in certain industries impairs public welfare andundermines the country‘s credibility to provide a business climate conducive toinvestment.

The House said the presence of a comprehensive competition policy would furtherboost the country‘s gross domestic product (GDP) to rise at par with the country‘s firstworld counterparts; improve real wage; and lead to lower consumer prices.

Belmonte said as outlined in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) blueprint adoptedin 2007, all ASEAN member states, including the Philippines, would endeavor tointroduce competition policy by 2015.

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The bill provides for the creation of a Philippine Fair Trade Commission (PFTC) to beunder the Office of the President and which would investigate, gather evidence andinitiate prosecution of those engaged in unfair trade practices. It would also look into thedescription of cartels and monopolies, and impose defined sanctions and penalties forviolation of the Fair Competition Act.

The bill also mandates that the exercise of regulatory powers by different governmentagencies, including local government units (LGUs), over an industry or subsectorthereof should be cumulative and should not be construed in any way as derogatingfrom the power and authority of the PFTC.

While the PFTC would have primary and sole jurisdiction over competition issues, theregulatory bodies would continue to exercise jurisdiction over all matters with regard tothe firms‘ operation and exercise.

The bill provides it would be unlawful for firms to engage in anti-competitive acts that

prevent, distort, or restrict competition unless otherwise exempted. These prohibitedacts should include price fixing and bid rigging.

The bill also provides that it would be unlawful for one or more firms to abuse theirdominant position by engaging in unfair methods of competition, or in unfair ordeceptive trade practices, or entering into combinations in the form of trust or otherwise,or conspiracy, with the purpose and effect to prevent, restrict or distort competition.

Among the prohibited acts should be: predatory behavior towards competitors; limitationand control of markets; market allocation; arrangements to share markets or sources ofsupply; price discrimination; exclusivity arrangement; tie-in arrangements; and boycott.

The measure also prohibits anti-competitive mergers. It provides that no firm engaged incommerce or trade should acquire, directly or indirectly, the whole or any part of thestock or other share capital, or the whole or any part of the assets, of one or more firmsengaged in any line of commerce or trade where the effect of such acquisition of suchstocks, share capital, or assets, or of the use of such stock by voting or granting ofproxies or otherwise maybe to substantially lessen competition, or tend to create amonopoly.

The bill offers a leniency program to any person or firm that should cooperate or furnishany information, document or data to the PFTC before or during the conduct of thepreliminary inquiry that constitutes material evidence as determined by the Commission.

Romero, P. (2013, August 18). Belmonte urges sustained efforts to groweconomy. The Phil ippine Star . Retrieved 7 July 2014 fromhttp://digitaledition.philstar.com/newspaper/showArticle/18608/share/Belmonte-urges-sustained-efforts-to-grow-economy/

http://digitaledition.philstar.com/newspaper/showArticle/18608/share/Belmonte-urges-sustained-efforts-to-grow-economy/







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The country‘s steady growth should not be taken lightly as the global economic giantscontinue to grapple with recession, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. warned during arecent business forum.

―Recession sweeps many parts of the world, including Europe. Tentative growth

appears to be the best news from large economies like China, India, and Brazil. Againstthis backdrop, our country‘s strong economic performance is not a small feat,‖ Belmontetold members of the Wallace Business Forum held last week.

Belmonte is gratified by the business sector‘s continued support for determined effortsof government to pursue institutional reforms that allowed the 15th Congress to passhistoric and game-changing laws.

―With your support, we in Congress have once again earned the trust and confidence ofour people,‖ the Speaker said as he anticipates that the 16th Congress could equal oreven surpass the feat of the previous Congress.

He cited the overhaul of the appropriations process, creating the ―habit of promptlyenacting transparent and responsive national budgets, the first ever ReproductiveHealth Law and the Sin Tax Law which for about 15 years languished in the dust bin ofthe legislative process.

Buoyed by the positive prognosis of the country‘s continued economic growth byinternational development institutions, Belmonte noted the steady improvement in thenation‘s competitiveness rankings, jumping 22 notches since 2009.

Even as the country‘s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 7.8 percent in the firstquarter of 2013, erasing the image of the Philippines as the ―sick man of Asia,‖Belmonte stressed ―more has yet to be done.‖

―Our growth rate has even outpaced the rest of Asia. With all these positivedevelopments, we can never be complacent. The work is not yet done,‖ he said.

To attain sustained growth, he cited the need to extricate the economy from being aconsumption-driven system to that of production-driven or dynamically mobilized byinvestments.

―These investments need to be sustainable, industry-expanding, and job creating,‖ hesaid adding that the country still has the lowest investment-to-GDP ratio and the lowestshare of foreign direct investments among its regional peers.

To create an environment that is conducive to investments, Belmonte said, ―we need tomaintain macroeconomic stability, while pursuing structural reforms that reduce risksand increase returns on investments.‖



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One vital reform avenue the government is pursuing is the adoption of a prudent fiscalpolicy to enable it to contain its budget deficit and reduce its outstanding debt, he said.

―Together with the effective management of our monetary aggregates by the BangkoSentral Ng Pilipinas, we kept our inflation rates low, built up healthy foreign exchange

reserves, and stabilized our exchange rate,‖ he said.

He also cited the proposed 2014 P2.268-trillion national spending bill now beingdeliberated by the House as one vital measure that complies with the same basic tenetof promoting macroeconomic stability and productive capacity through investment inhuman capital formation and economic infrastructure.

―The overarching truth that will thread together all reforms is—and will always be—goodgovernance. Unwavering and staunchly committed leadership will win the day,‖Belmonte said.

Bacani, L. (2013, April 26). Belmonte: Gun control to be taken up in 16thCongress. The Phil ippine Star . Retrieved 7 July 2014 fromhttp://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/04/26/935207/belmonte-gun-control-be-taken-16th-congress

MANILA, Philippines - After a recent survey showed that 3 out of 4 Filipinos support agun control policy, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said on Friday that the issue wouldbe taken up in the next Congress.

Reiterating his call for a strict gun control, Belmonte said the matter "would most likely"be among the many concerns to be raised when the 16th Congress opens in July.

Earlier this year, Belmonte said the country certainly needs greater firearms control. Atotal ban except for those in the military, police and security agencies, was only ideal aslong as illegal firearms thrive, he added.

Meanwhile, one of the authors of a gun control measure filed in the lower housestressed the need for "comprehensive, sustainable and stricter" regulations on all typesof firearms and its components.

Marikina City 1st District Representative Marcelino Teodoro said the proliferation offirearms is becoming rampant, making it easier for criminal entities to perform acts ofviolence.

"A gun control law must be upheld and fully enforced upon by the concerned agenciesand supported by the government to eradicate criminal acts," said Teodoro, one of theauthors of House Bill 5484 or the Comprehensive Firearms, Light Weapons and

Ammunition Regulation Act of 2012.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/04/26/935207/belmonte-gun-control-be-taken-16th-congress







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The House of Representatives approved the said bill on third and final reading on Jan.24, 2012, and sent it to the Senate two days later.

Last February 4 or more than a year later, the Senate approved on third and finalreading a similar gun measure, the Senate Bill 3397 or the Comprehensive Firearms

and Ammunition Regulation Act.

The said bill had been adopted by the Lower House as an amendment to HB 5484.

Among other violations, the Senate measure penalizes the illegal acquisition orownership of three or more light firearms, which is punishable by lifetime imprisonment.

The gun measure was filed in the Senate last January, a month when gun-relatedincidents such the Atimonan, Quezon shooting and the New Year stray bullet caseswere highlighted.

Earlier this week, a Pulse Asia survey showed that 75 percent of Filipinos are in favor ofthe implementation of a gun control policy.

In the survey that covered 1,800 people aged 18 and above, only seven percentdisagreed to such regulation, while 18 percent were undecided on the issue.

The survey also showed that most Filipinos (78 percent) prefer a policy that only allowslaw enforcers and licensed private security guards to carry firearms in public places.

A sizeable majority of the respondents (67 percent) also think that guns and theirproliferation are among the key reasons why crime and violence occur in the country.

Diola, C. (2012, December 31). Belmonte: RH, sin tax are House's 'legacy'. The

Phil ippine Star . Retrieved 7 July 2014 fromhttp://www.philstar.com/headlines/2012/12/31/891895/belmonte-rh-sin-tax-are-houses-legacy

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Monday called the passage ofcontroversial legislative measures such as the Sin Tax and the Reproductive Health(RH) bills a "legacy" of the House of Representatives as the year comes to a close.

"Through all the controversies and challenges, this 15th Congress has left a legacy andlaid the groundwork for reforms and responding to the more urgent concerns of majorityof our people," Belmonte said in a statement summing up the past year for the lowerhouse of Congress.

A co-author of the House version of the divisive RH bill, Belmonte said that Congress"stood up and fought for" its passage through "countless debates" that took 14 years ofre-filing and re-writing.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2012/12/31/891895/belmonte-rh-sin-tax-are-houses-legacy







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He also said that the approval of excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol products underhis leadership was a sign that lawmakers are "paying heed to the social welfareconcerns" of Filipinos.

"A total of 972 vital measures have been passed, many of which are truly significant and

directly address matters close to the heart of each sector," the speaker said, adding thatthe "Kasambahay" bill granting benefits to household helpers is among these measures.

Belmonte, the fourth highest government official, also regarded a highlight of a "colorfuland historic year" the impeachment of Chief Justice Corona, which arose from acomplaint from the representatives.

"Best remembered was the impeachment of then Chief Justice Renato Corona whichwas an endeavor that entailed a lot of challenges ... The House was at the forefront ofthis historic move to end corruption in the country," he said.

He also expressed confidence that the lower house had been responsive to situations ofurgency such as the floods by Habagat in August and the ravages of typhoon Pablo insouthern Philippines.

"I am proud to say, lawmakers responded quickly not just by way of financial and reliefassistance but through bills and resolutions filed in an effort to prevent casualties anddamage from such disasters should they occur again in the future," Belmonte said.

The former Quezon City mayor promised 2013 as another year for Congress to make amark as "the most responsive" in representing each solon's constituents.

Esguerra, C. (2012, December 19). Divorce bill next –Belmonte. Phil ipp ine Daily

Inquirer . Retrieved 7 July 2014 fromhttp://newsinfo.inquirer.net/326581/divorce-bill-next-belmonte

While Roman Catholic bishops and prolife groups were still recovering from theircrushing defeat on the reproductive health (RH) bill, Speaker Feliciano Belmontedropped yet another bombshell—he wants a divorce law in predominantly CatholicPhilippines.

―Me, I‘m in favor of the divorce bill,‖ Belmonte said Tuesday when asked during a pre -Christmas lunch with reporters.

But he admitted that passing a divorce bill would have to wait because congressmenwould be busy campaigning for next year‘s midterm elections.

Asked if a divorce law would be passed in the next Congress, Belmonte—whodescribed himself as a Christian—said he didn‘t know what the composition of theHouse of Representatives would be then, ―but I think so.‖

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/326581/divorce-bill-next-belmonte





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After Malta legalized divorced last year, the Philippines has become the only country inthe world—apart from the Vatican—without a divorce law.

Representatives Luzviminda Ilagan and Emerenciana de Jesus of the militant groupGabriela have a pending bill seeking to amend the Family Code to include a divorce

provision.

Belmonte said the measure remained at the committee level and was unlikely to bepassed soon.

―Not this time, but it‘s there at the back of our minds,‖ he said. ―I just want the idea to bethere … I want that to remain in the consciousness of congressmen so at some point,we can take it up again.‖

Failed, unhappy marriages

In their explanatory note to House Bill No. 1799, Ilagan and De Jesus said their divorceproposal was in line with ―the policy of the State to protect and strengthen marriage andthe family as basic social institutions.‖

―Reality tells us that there are many failed, unhappy marriages across all Filipinoclasses,‖ they said. ―Many couples, especially from the marginalized sectors who haveno access to the courts, simply end up separating without the benefit of legalprocesses.‖

The two lawmakers said ―cultur al prescriptions and religious norms keep many couplestogether despite the breakdown of their marriages.‖

Bigger fight

―While absolute fidelity is demanded of wives, men are granted sexual license to haveaffairs outside marriage. Yet when the marriage fails, the woman is blamed for itsfailure,‖ they added.

But Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez—an opponent of the RH bill—rejected thedivorce proposal, warning it would further erode family values.

―If we opposed the RH bill, the more that we will oppose a divorce bill,‖ Rodriguez toldthe Inquirer. ―This will definitely destroy families and the future of their children.‖ Rodriguez did not appear surprised that discussions on a divorce law were nowhappening, especially after Congress passed the RH bill despite strong opposition fromthe Catholic Church.

He earlier warned that an RH law would open a ―pandora‘s box‖ of related demands,such as legislation on abortion, divorce and same-sex marriage.



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―That‘s the progression,‖ he said. ―All they need is a crack to open and change ourvalues system.‖

A covenant, a ‗mystery‘

The Church considers marriage a ―covenant‖ and has long opposed divorce, allowingannulment but under strict conditions.

―Marriage is not a purely human institution despite the many variations it may haveundergone through the centuries in different cultures, social structures and spiritualattitudes,‖ according to the Catechism of the Church.

―The Scripture speaks throughout of marriage and its ‗mystery,‘ its institution and themeaning God has given it, its origin and its end, its various realizations throughout thehistory of salvation, the difficulties arising from sin and its renewal ‗in the Lord‘ in theNew Covenant of Christ and the Church.‖

Belmonte justified his preference for a divorce law, saying: ―If your lives are no longertolerable, why (not divorce)?‖

Now that Congress has passed the RH bill, he said he would reach out to Catholicbishops.

―I would, definitely I would,‖ he said. ―I don‘t see any lasting acrimony between us.‖

Grounds for divorce

HB 1799 cites five grounds for divorce, among them ―irreconcilable differences thathave caused the irreparable breakdown of the marriage.‖

Divorce can also be sought if the ―petitioner has been separated de facto from his or herspouse for at least five years at the time of the filing of the petition and reconciliation ishighly improbable.‖ Legal separation from a spouse ―for at least two years‖ is also aground, according to the bill.

―When one or both spouses are psychologically incapacitated to comply with theessential marital obligations,‖ he or she could also file for divorce. Any of the existinggrounds for legal separation that has caused ―irreparable breakdown of marriage‖ couldalso be a ground.

Flores, W. L. (2011, October 2). Speaker Sonny Belmonte: Stronger, Better at 75 &his greatest success. The Phil ippine Star . Retrieved 7 July 2014 fromhttp://www.philstar.com/sunday-life/732585/speaker-sonny-belmonte-stronger-better-75-his-greatest-success

http://www.philstar.com/sunday-life/732585/speaker-sonny-belmonte-stronger-better-75-his-greatest-success







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The purpose of life is a life of purpose. — Robert Byrne

Speaker Feliciano ―Sonny‖ Belmonte Jr. today celebrates his 75th birthday as one of thecountry‘s most respected statesmen, a Christian civic leader, the most outstanding

mayor of Quezon City, an award-winning journalist, a lawyer, poetry and musicaficionado, book and art lover, coin collector, a working student in his youth, a goodfamily man.

SB‘s Greatest Success

More than all his multifarious political, civic and other accomplishments, I believe SonnyBelmonte‘s greatest success is that of being a successful father.

Finding his star: Sonny Belmonte and wife, STAR co-founder Betty Go BelmonteHe and his late wife, Philippine STAR co-founder Betty Go-Belmonte, successfully

raised four humble, hardworking and talented children who are now continuing theirpublic service commitments in diverse fields — eldest child Isaac is STAR editor inchief; second child Kevin is Philstar.com president and Development Bank of thePhilippines (DBP) director; third child Miguel is the president and chief executive officerwho built up the Star Group of Publications and turned it into the Philippin es‘ leadingprint media group; and only daughter Joy is dynamic Quezon City vice mayor andCongressional Spouses Foundation, Inc. chairperson.

A Working Student, Award-Winning Reporter & Self-Made Man

The Speaker was born on Oct. 2, 1936 as Feliciano Racimo Belmonte Jr. to. JudgeFeliciano Belmonte, Sr. from Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija, and his wife, teacher Luz Racimofrom Vintar, Ilocos Norte. His birthplace was the Emmanuel Hospital in Manila near aneskinita in Sampaloc where his parents resided in the 1930s.

He grew up and studied well in Zaragoza in Nueva Ecija, Baguio City, Manila and Albay,before enrolling at San Beda College for his third year high school studies. It was at SanBeda where he started his passion for journalism and became news editor of TheBedan school paper with future House Speaker Ramon ―Monching‖ Mitra, Jr. as itseditor in chief. He was also an honor student and a youth leader.

While a working student going to law school, the young Sonny Belmonte startedworking at the Manila Chronicle with a salary of P60, which could be advanced at P2 aday. He was eventually assigned to cover one of Manila‘s best and most charismaticleaders, the late Mayor Arsenio Lacson.

The hardworking reporter Belmonte‘s first bylined story was on the killing of ManuelMonroy, principal witness to the bribery case against a top Cabinet member. He alsorecalled writing about a band of killers in Manila‘s Tondo district called the ―Greasegun



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Gang.‖ A highlight of his journalistic career was when he won the Stanvac Journalism Award from the National Press Club in 1957.

Outstanding Law Student, Civic Leader Here & Abroad

One of Sonny‘s unforgettable teachers in law school was the legendary nationalistSenator Claro M. Recto, who taught him Civil Procedure. Recto told the class thatSonny was the smartest student he ever had and gave him a final grade of 100 percent,which was even contested by the Education Department and which Recto defended.

He would later pass the 1960 Bar examinations with high grades — 94 percent inPolitical Law, 93 percent in International Law and Land Registration and Mortgages,and with a general weighted average of 85.55 percent which was then one of thehighest among that year‘s batch of examinees.

A natural leader since his youth, Sonny Belmonte was elected president of the Manila

Jaycees in 1971 and the Philippine Jaycees in 1973. In the Jaycees World Congress in Amsterdam, Netherlands, he was elected president of the Jaycees International for1976, besting three frontrunners from Belgium, Australia and Puerto Rico.

Turnaround Expert, Progressive Political Leader

In 1986, Sonny Belmonte was appointed by then President Cory C. Aquino as head ofseveral financially ailing government corporations, which he successfully turned aroundand made profitable. He served as president of GSIS, Manila Hotel, Philippine Airlinesand head of other institutions. His success as a turnaround expert would prepare himwell for public service in politics as legislator and as mayor.

As mayor of Quezon City, Sonny Belmonte or ―SB‖ upheld prudent fiscal management,reforms, improved the business environment, modernized infrastructures and pushedsocio-economic development in the city with the largest population in the whole country.

Today one of the highest-ranking political leaders of the Philippines due to his being adecisive leader of the House of Representatives with 286 legislators, Speaker SonnyBelmonte at 75 years old is in the forefront of efforts to strengthen Philippine politicaldemocracy, good governance and a more globally-competitive free enterprise economy.



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E. TALKING POINTS

1. What are your legislative initiatives in strengthening the nation‘s economy asthe country prepares for the ASEAN Economic Integration of 2015?

Speaker Belmonte has proposed amending th e const i tut ion , speci f ical ly the

provisions affecting the country’s economy . In March 2014, under theSpeaker‘s initiative, the House passed a resolution calling for an amendment ofthe 1987 Charter by adding the phrase ―unless otherwise provided by law‖ to theConstitution‘s articles concerning the national economy and patrimony;education, science, technology, arts, culture and sports; and general provisions i.

Albeit this would not automatically remove the foreign ownership andparticipation limits as stipulated in the Charter, Congress would neverthelessnow have the power to lift such restrictions in an attempt to boost foreigninvestments. President B. S. Aquino III, the Speaker‘s ally, has reiterated his

position that he is against Charter Changeii

.

The Representative from Quezon City‘s 4th Congressional District has alsopushed for the passage of the Phi l ippine Fair Compet i tion A ct which ―aims toencourage fair and free economic competition by prohibiting the abuse ofmarket dominant positions and the excessive concentration of economic powerby regulating improper concerted acts and unfair business practices, therebystimulating creative business activities, protecting consumers and promoting thebalanced development of the national economy‖ iii.

During the 15th

Congress, Speaker Belmonte led the House in enacting lawsaimed at attracting investments, promote transparency, and raise revenues.These include the Sin Tax Reform Act, Data Privacy Act, People’s SurvivalFund, Ant i -Terror ist Financing Act and amendments to the An t i -Money

Launder ing A ct iv .

2. How will your proposed ―Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act‖ affectregional security in Southeast Asia?

Together with House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II, Speaker Belmonteauthored House Bil l 4153, know n as ―Phi l ippine Arch ipelagic Sea Lanes

Act” during the 15th

Congress. The bill aims to ―expand and amend R.A. No.9522 by establishing sea lanes in the Philippine archipelagic waters, prescribingthe rights and obligations of foreign ships and aircraft exercising the right ofarchipelagic sea lanes and passage through the established archipelagic sealanes and providing for the associated measures therein‖.

The House passed the bill on 24 January 2012 and was transmitted to theSenate two days thereafter.





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Although said in jest, Speaker Belmonte has vowed to pass the much-awaitedpiece of legislation by saying: "Bitayin ninyo ako kung matapos ito at hindi panakakapasa" x .

5. How can you restore the image of the House of Representatives in the

aftermath of the Pork Barrel Fund Scam?

Although the focus of the scam is on the Senate, several members of the lowerhouse have been implicated in the corruption scandal, including: PampangaRep. Oscar Rodriguez, Cebu Rep. Gerald Gullas, Nueva Vizcaya Rep. CarlosPadilla, Cebu City Rep. Raul Del Mar, Compostela Valley Rep. Rommel

Amatong, Laguna Rep. Joaquin Chipeco Jr., Lanao Del Norte Rep. AbdullahDimaporo, Abono party-list Rep. Conrado Estrella III, Bukidnon Rep. FlorencioFlores, Masbate Rep. Scott Davies Lanete, An Waray Rep. Neil BenedictMontejo, La Union Rep. Victor Ortega, Abante Mindanao Rep. MaximoRodriguez Jr., Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Oriental Mindoro Rep.

Reynaldo Umali, and Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab

xi

.

―We cannot‖, Speaker Belmonte said in his privilege speech as the chamberadjourned its first regular session under the 16th Congress, ―speak away norremain silent on the unremitting assaults to the integrity of this House and of itsmembers, often without basis, in the wake of the PDAF controversy‖xii.

i Salaverria, Leila B. Philippine Daily Inquirer. March 4, 2014. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/582115/charter-change-

bill-takes-off-in-house (accessed July 7, 2014).ii Sabillo, Krisitine. Philippine Daily Inquirer. February 20, 2014. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/579377/palace-

aquino-not-buying-belmontes-view-on-charter-change (accessed July 8, 2014)iii Romero, Paulo. The Philippine Star. October 15, 2013. http://www.philstar.com/business/2013/10/15/1245265

/belmonte-pushes-passage-fair-competition-act (accessed July 7, 2014)iv Romero, Paulo. The Philippine Star. February 27, 2014. http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/02/27/913620

/belmonte-reiterates-need-charter-amendments (accessed July 8, 2014)v Tan, Kimberly Jane. GMA News. June 2, 2014. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/363768/

news/nation/bangsamoro-law-not-being-watered-down-palace-assures-milf (accessed July 8, 2014)vi Tan, Kimberly Jane. GMA News. June 10, 2014. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/365008/news/nation

/bangsamoro-basic-law-to-be-submitted-to-congress-in-july (accessed July 8, 2014)vii

Arcangel, Xianne. GMA News. May 13, 2014. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/360813/news/nation/

enacting-bangsamoro-basic-law-may-cause-chaos-in-mindanao-philconsa (accessed July 8, 2014)viii

National Economic and Development Authority. "Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016." 2012.

http://www.neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/CHAPTER-7.pdf (accessed July 8, 2014).ix Ibid

x Bacani, Louis. The Philippine Star. March 11, 2014. http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/03/11/1299695/

Documents

Backgrounder on House Speaker Belmonte