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15th Congress of the Philippines

36th legislative term of the Philippines

15th Congress of the Philippines

36th legislative term of the Philippines

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}}chamber3_leader3_typeMajority leaderchamber3_leader3=Neptali Gonzales IImembership3=286chamber3_leader1_type=Speakerchamber2_leader4_type=Minority leaderchamber2_leader4=Alan Peter Cayetanochamber3_leader4_type=Minority leaderchamber3_leader4={{plainlist
  • Juan Ponce Enrile (until June 5, 2013)
  • Jinggoy Estrada (acting, since June 5, 2013)
  • Erin Tañada
  • Raul Daza
  • Beng Climaco
  • Pablo P. Garcia
  • Arnulfo Fuentebella
  • Jesus Crispin Remulla
  • Edcel Lagman (until January 20, 2012)
  • Danilo Suarez (from January 20, 2012)

The 15th Congress of the Philippines (), composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives, met from July 26, 2010, until June 6, 2013, during the first three years of Benigno Aquino III's presidency. The convening of the 15th Congress followed the 2010 general elections, which replaced half of the Senate membership and the entire membership of the House of Representatives.

Leadership

Senate

until June 5, 2013 from June 5, 2013

  • President:
    • Juan Ponce Enrile (PMP), until June 5, 2013
    • Jinggoy Estrada (PMP), acting, from June 5, 2013
  • President pro tempore: Jinggoy Estrada (PMP)
  • Majority Floor Leader: Tito Sotto (NPC)
  • Minority Floor Leader: Alan Peter Cayetano (Nacionalista) ::

House of Representatives

  • Speaker: Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (Quezon City–4th, Liberal)
  • Deputy Speakers:
    • Erin Tañada (Quezon–4th, Liberal)
    • Raul Daza (Northern Samar–1st, Liberal)
    • Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City–1st, Liberal)
    • Pablo P. Garcia (Cebu–2nd, NUP)
    • Arnulfo Fuentebella (Camarines Sur–3rd, NPC)
    • Jesus Crispin Remulla (Cavite–7th, Nacionalista)
  • Majority Floor Leader: Neptali Gonzales II (Mandaluyong, Liberal)
  • Minority Floor Leader:
    • Edcel Lagman (Albay–1st, Lakas), until January 20, 2012
    • Danilo Suarez (Quezon–3rd, Lakas), from January 20, 2012 ::

Sessions

  • First Regular Session: July 26, 2010 – June 6, 2011
  • Second Regular Session: July 25, 2011 – June 6, 2012
  • Third Regular Session: July 23, 2012 – June 5, 2013

Party summary

Senate

AffiliationParty (Majority/minority bloc/unclassified)
(Shading indicates party has members in the majority bloc)TotalLDPLakasLPNPNPCPDPPRPPMPIndB-VNPVacantEnd of [14th Congress](14th-congress-of-the-philippines)23Election24June 30, 201023July 25, 201023August 2, 201023August 4, 201023August 3, 201122August 15, 201123August 17, 201123May 10, 201223July 8, 201223September 21, 201223September 23, 201223
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}3 / 1Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}3 / 10 / 3Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 00 / 1Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}4 / 1Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 01
14542012500
14442012501
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 1Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}4 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 2Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 00 / 1Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 201
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 1Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}4 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 2Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 00 / 1Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}4 / 001
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 1Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}4 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 2Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}4 / 001
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 1Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}4 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 2Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}4 / 002
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 1Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}4 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 2Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1/0/1Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}4 / 001
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 1Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}4 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 2Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}4 / 001
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 1Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}4 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 2Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}3 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}3 / 001
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 1Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}4 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}3 / 2Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}3 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 001
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 1Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}4 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2/2/1Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}3 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 001
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 1Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}4 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 3Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}1 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}3 / 0Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino}}2 / 001

House of Representatives

AffiliationParty (Shading indicates party has members in the majority bloc; italicization indicates party has members from the minority bloc)TotalBilBPPCDPKBLLDPLakasLMLPNPNPCNUPPDPPDSPPMPUNAIndLTPLVacantEnd of [14th Congress](14th-congress-of-the-philippines)269[Election](2010-philippine-house-of-representatives-elections)224May 2010259June 25, 2010263July 22, 2010262July 25, 2010265August 2, 2010270September 1, 2010272September 7, 2010273September 21, 2010276September 27, 2010279October 7, 2010280November 22, 2010281November 30, 2010282January 17, 2011283February 4, 2011March 7, 2011March 16, 2011284May 30, 2011285July 25, 2011286August 3, 2011285August 30, 2011December 31, 2011284January 19, 2012January 26, 2012283February 13, 2012284April 16, 2012May 4, 2012May 25, 2012283May 29, 2012282May 31, 2012281June 4, 2012282August 13, 2012281October 9, 2012282October 10, 2012283October 18, 2012282November 5, 2012December 25, 2012281March 19, 2013280April 24, 2013279Final voting share0%0%0%0%0%*9%*0%31%6%16%10%0%0%0%4%1%0%20%
0——0Lakas-Kampi-CMD}}1Lakas-Kampi-CMD}}123Lakas-Kampi-CMD}}130Lakas-Kampi-CMD}}24Lakas-Kampi-CMD}}25—502—Lakas-Kampi-CMD}}4Lakas-Kampi-CMD}}1Lakas-Kampi-CMD}}533
0——121051452430—216—70063
1053528
1966623310523524
953525
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}1Liberal Party (Philippines)}}1Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*89*Liberal Party (Philippines)}}1Liberal Party (Philippines)}}73Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*22*Liberal Party (Philippines)}}30Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*2*Liberal Party (Philippines)}}5Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*2*Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*39*22
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*44*17
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*46*15
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*47*14
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*50*11
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*53*8
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*54*7
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*90*6
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*91*5
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*55*4
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}61Liberal Party (Philippines)}}30
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*60*Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*56*
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*61*3
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}12
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*57*Liberal Party (Philippines)}}74Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*21*Liberal Party (Philippines)}}29Liberal Party (Philippines)}}351
02
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*54*Liberal Party (Philippines)}}30Liberal Party (Philippines)}}37
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*55*3
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*53*Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*3*
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*52*4
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}13
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}73Liberal Party (Philippines)}}3
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}74Liberal Party (Philippines)}}36
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*51*Liberal Party (Philippines)}}44
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*54*5
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*50*6
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}755
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}746
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*55*5
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*56*4
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}735
0Liberal Party (Philippines)}}1Liberal Party (Philippines)}}1Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*28*Liberal Party (Philippines)}}91Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*18*Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*44*Liberal Party (Philippines)}}2700Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*11*Liberal Party (Philippines)}}4
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*43*6
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*90*7
Liberal Party (Philippines)}}*27*8

Members

Main article: List of members of the 15th Congress of the Philippines

Party standing

Senate

PartyMajority
BlocMinority
BlocTotal%Totals1942395.83%*
10**1**4.17%
21**3**12.50%
40**4**16.67%
23**5**20.83%
20**2**8.33%
10**1**4.17%
10**1**4.17%
20**2**8.33%
s
Former NPC: 1, former UNO: 1, former LDP: 1, former PDP–Laban40**4**16.67%

*for purposes of quorum and voting, the vacant seat is included.

House of Representatives

Final party standing.
PartyMajority
BlocInd.Minority
BlocTotal%Totals254124279100.00%*Percent88.81%0.36%39%97.55%
Bukidnon Paglaum100**1**0.35%
100**1**0.36%
100**1**0.36%
100**1**0.36%
100**1**0.36%
10011**21**7.34%
9000**90**31.47%
1602**18**6.41%
3805**43**15.30%
3000**30**10.68%
100**1**0.36%
911**11**3.91%
s400**4**1.42%
Sectoral5105**56**19.93%

Memberships in committees and other bodies

  • Note: Doesn't include oversight committees created for specific laws.

Commission on Appointments

The Senate President sits as the chair of the Commission on Appointments, who can only vote to break ties; the head of the contingent of the House of Representatives serves as the vice chairman and can vote not just only to break ties.

ChamberPartyChair/vice chairPartyMinority leader
SenateJuan Ponce EnrileJoker Arroyo
House of RepresentativesRoilo GolezSimeon Datumanong

Judicial and Bar Council

The chairs of the respective houses' committees of justice shall serve as ex officio members of the Judicial and Bar Council. The Chief Justice is the ex officio chairman, while the president appoints the members, with confirmation from the Commission on Appointments.

ChamberPartyName
SenateFrancis Escudero
House of RepresentativesNiel Tupas, Jr.

Electoral tribunals

The Senate Electoral Tribunal is composed of six senators and three justices of the Supreme Court; the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal on the other hand is composed of six representatives and three justices of the Supreme Court.

Electoral tribubalPartyContingent leaderPartyMinority leader
SenateFrancis PangilinanPia Cayetano
House of RepresentativesFranklin BautistaSimeon Datumanong

Senate committees

Main article: List of Philippine Senate committees

The Senate President, Senate President pro tempore and the Floor Leaders are ex officio members of all committees; the majority floor leader is automatically the chair of the Committee on Rules.

House of Representatives committees

Main article: List of Philippine House of Representatives committees

The Speaker, Deputy Speakers and the Floor Leaders are ex officio members of all committees; the majority floor leader is automatically the chair of the Committee on Rules.

Legislative activities

Legislative calendar

  • First Regular Session:
    • Commencement: July 26, 2010
    • Adjournment: October 16, 2010
    • Resumption: November 8, 2010
    • Adjournment: December 18, 2010
    • Resumption: January 17, 2011
    • Adjournment: March 26, 2011
    • Resumption: May 9, 2011
    • Adjournment: June 9, 2011
  • Second Regular Session
    • Commencement: July 25, 2011
  • Third Regular Session

First Regular Session

Convening

Unlike at the beginning of the 14th Congress, the election of the presiding officers for both houses proceeded without incident as Quezon City representative Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. of the Liberal Party was elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives while Juan Ponce Enrile of PMP was re-elected Senate President. Alan Peter Cayetano of the Nacionalistas and Albay representative Edcel Lagman of Lakas-Kampi were named minority floor leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively.

In his State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Benigno Aquino III bared the anomalies during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo such as a budget deficit in the first half of the year, a depleted calamity fund that mostly went to Pampanga, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's home province, corruption at the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, Department of Public Works and Highways, National Power Corporation, Metro Rail Transit Corporation and the National Food Authority. Aquino announced steps to weed out tax evaders, and asked the Commission on Appointments to be easy on his Cabinet.

Postponement of the barangay elections

Main article: 2010 Philippine barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections

The minority bloc filed bills to postpone the upcoming barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK; youth council) elections in October until 2011. Lakas-Kampi representative Danilo Suarez of Quezon remarked that since the barangay and SK elections were too close to the just-concluded general election, and that congressmen would run out of funds as candidates for barangay positions turn to them for financial support. The president wants the barangay elections to be held at October, but the winners' terms shall only be until May 2013 where the barangay elections will be held concurrently with the 2013 general election. In the Senate, Migz Zubiri filed a bill that will postponed the elections until October 2012, with Enrile prioritizing it.

On August 18, the House of Representatives Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms agreed to consolidate bills that seek to postpone the barangay elections, with Commission on Elections chairman Jose Melo preferring a 2011 date since synchronizing it with the 2013 general election would be costly as it will be included in the automation project. The City Mayors League preferred postponement up to 2011, the Liga ng mga Barangay wants a 2012 election while the SK prefers any year as long as it is held in October.

In the next hearing of the Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, the bills deferring the elections were defeated, paving the way for the elections to be held on October 25. Committee chairman Elpidio Barzaga said that "Mr. Aquino wants elections to push through because he wants barangay officials who will serve during his term to have a fresh mandate from the people," with the ex officio members of the House of Representatives voting on Magtanggol Gunigundo's motion to "lay down all the bills on the table." This meant that any further hearings on the matter shall be suspended indefinitely.

Impeachment of Merceditas Gutierrez

Main article: Impeachment of Merceditas Gutierrez

While there had been attempts in the 14th Congress, to impeach Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, none of them passed the committee level.

In July 2010, Akbayan Citizens' Action Party filed an impeachment complain against Gutierrez. A few days later in August, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance) filed a separate complaint. Both complaints were simultaneously referred to the House of Representative Committee on Justice headed by Iloilo representative Niel Tupas, Jr.

On September 1, the committee voted both complaints as sufficient in form. A week later, the committee voted both complaints as sufficient in substance. On September 13, Gutierrez filed a motion to the Supreme Court saying that the two complaints violated the one proceeding per year rule. The next day, the court voted to pass a status quo ante order that stopped the impeachment proceedings.

Five months after the order, the court lifted the status quo ante order, on February 15, 2011, thereby allowing the impeachment proceedings to resume, saying that while there are two complaints, there was only one hearing. The day before the committee would've met to continue the proceedings, Gutierrez filed a motion for reconsideration to reinstate the status quo ante order. The committee met anyway, and found the two complaints sufficient in grounds.

On the next hearing, Gutierrez, who had not been attending the impeachment proceeding as she had pending cases on the Supreme Court, sent a representative. The committee was about to vote on whether the two complaints had probable cause when they learned that the Supreme Court dismissed Gutierrez's petitions; after they were notified, the committee voted that both complaints had probable cause.

After a marathon session that lasted into the next day, the House of Representatives on March 22 voted to impeach Gutierrez of betrayal of public trust, with 212 in favor, 46 against and 4 abstentions. Tupas headed the House of Representatives delegation that passed the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate on March 23.

Gutierrez, citing that "the President needs an Ombudsman in whom he has complete trust and confidence," resigned on April 29, 2011. With her resignation, the senate canceled the impeachment trial.

2011 national budget

The deliberations for the enactment of the national budget were opposed by several representatives from the Visayas and Mindanao as they contended that their allocation in the budget, 7.7% for the Visayas and 10% for Mindanao, were not enough. Appropriations Committee chair Joseph Emilio Abaya said while that there will be realignments done, there will be no major realignments. Another point of contention was the conditional cash transfer program, which, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, will help the country in halving poverty, which is one of the Millennium Development Goals. The inclusion of the conditional cash transfer program caused the budget for the Department of Social Welfare and Development to increase 123% from PHP15.4 billion to PHP34.3 billion. The PHP1.645 trillion budget was passed by the House of Representatives on October 16 in a marathon session.

The Senate approved their version of the budget, with the major changes from the House version include the increase in allocation for the Office of the Vice President, additional PHP590 million for the House of Representatives, additional PHP345 million for the Senate, the restoration of PHP143.107 million for public colleges, additional subsidy of PHP200 million for local government units and reducing PHP200 million from the Department of Health supposedly for the purchase of contraceptives. The PHP21 billion conditional cash transfer program was kept.

On December 27, 2010, for the first time in eleven years, President Aquino signed the national budget into law before the year ended. Aquino vetoed 13 items, including the provision that Congress should authorize borrowings in excess of the debt ceiling and legislative consultation during budget execution and project implementation.

Investigation of the alleged corruption in the military

Main article: 2011 Armed Forces of the Philippines corruption scandal

The House Committee on Justice conducted hearings on the plea bargaining agreement of the Office of the Ombudsman and retired General Carlos Garcia who has a plunder suit in the Sandiganbayan (special court for government officials). The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the other hand, focused on the pabaon or send-off money given to generals.

On January 26, retired Col. George Rabusa exposed the alleged pabaon or send-off system in the military, which gives at least PHP50 million (USD4.64 million) to retiring chiefs of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) On January 30, Rabusa further said that former AFP chiefs of staff Diomedio Villanueva and Roy Cimatu were also given send-off money, and former military comptrollers Carlos Garcia and Jacinto Ligot were instrumental to the transfer of funds; Garcia and Ligot had earlier been charged already due to the anomalies.

On a hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on Justice, former Commission on Audit (COA) auditor Heidi Mendoza testified that she uncovered irregularities in funds by the military. Among the irregularities she found was the 200 million peso AFP Inter-Agency Fund, and the US$5 million United Nations (UN) reimbursement for Filipino peacekeepers.

Early morning of February 8, Reyes died in an apparent suicide. Later in the day, the House of Representatives Committee on Justice voted to continue the hearing. Mendoza testified that the military's modernization fund was diverted for the purchase of office supplies, and disputed former COA chairman Guillermo Carague, who denied that he ordered Mendoza to "go slow" in the Garcia case.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee summoned Ligot's wife Jacinta on the February 24 hearing; however, she was skipped as she was confined in Veterans Memorial Medical Center. Her brother, Edgardo Yambao, was also summoned but invoke his right against self-incrimination when asked about his wealth. On the March 21, hearing, Erlinda showed up but just like her husband and her brother, she refused to answer questions that were related to her husband's pending cases, invoking her right against self-incrimination. The Ligots did not appear in the March 25 hearing and was cited for contempt; Jacinto was detained at the Senate while Erlinda's detention was suspended for humanitarian reasons. On the March 29 hearing, Erlinda cited "Dara" (Kapampangan word to denote "aunt") as her frequent travel companion in her overseas trips; Senator Jinggoy Estrada had earlier said that she had traveled with Reyes' wife Teresita. Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Teofisto Guingona III ordered the release of General Ligot after the hearing.

Postponement of the ARMM general election

Main article: 2013 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general election

On February 3, 2011, President Aquino asked Congress to postpone the general election in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and synchronize it with the 2013 mid-term election. The officials that would end their terms in 2011 would be replaced by appointments by Aquino. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that aside from ensuring clean elections, a synchronized ARMM election would be cost-effective. On March 22, the House of Representatives passed the bill before Congress went on recess, while the Senate would take up the measure after the recess. On May 3, the Supreme Court ordered the executive and Congress to file comments on a petition from ARMM residents questioning the postponement.

Reproductive Health bill

Main article: Reproductive Health bill

On November 24, 2010, the House of Representatives population committee acted on the bills about reproductive health. However, Cebu representative Pablo P. Garcia disputed the committee's jurisdiction on the bills, saying it should have been referred to the Committee on Health. Committee chairman Rogelio Espina reasoned out that no one objected when the bills were referred to his committee. On January 31, 2011, the committee unanimously approved a consolidated version; the approval meant that for the first time after similar bills were created in 1998, that a reproductive health bill would be tackled in plenary session. On February 16, the House of Representatives appropriations committee approved funding for bill, with the Department of Health and the Population Commission receiving additional budgets.

The measure would have been tackled in plenary session on March 8, but questions on quorum and proper attire delayed the proceedings. The authors of the bill agreed to amend some provisions, such as making sex education optional, removal of an "ideal family size" of two children, removal of the provision that orders business to provide reproductive health services to their employees, among others. Primary author Edcel Lagman said that this would not water down the bill, as the "central idea" of the bill was not touched.

Legislation

Laws passed by the 15th Congress: Main article: Laws of the 15th Congress of the Philippines

References

References

  1. "Legislative Activities". Congress.gov.ph.
  2. (July 26, 2010). "Enrile remains Senate President; Belmonte voted House Speaker". [[Manila Bulletin]].
  3. Calica, Aurea. (July 27, 2010). "Noynoy: No more tong-pats". [[Philippine Star]].
  4. Dalangin-Fernandez, Lira. (August 16, 2010). "Minority to block 2010 barangay polls". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
  5. (August 10, 2010). "Senate to prioritize bill postponing Barangay, SK polls". GMANews.tv.
  6. Burgonio, TJ. (August 19, 2010). "House wants barangay, SK elections reset". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
  7. Legaspi, Amita. (August 25, 2010). "House panel ‘kills’ bill postponing SK, barangay polls". GMANews.tv.
  8. Porcalla, Delon. (November 18, 2009). "Impeachment raps vs Ombudsman junked". [[The Philippine Star]].
  9. Legaspi, Anita. (July 22, 2010). "Ex-Rep. Hontiveros leads 2nd impeachment vs Gutierrez". GMANews.TV.
  10. Legaspi, Anita. (August 3, 2010). "Another impeachment complaint filed vs Ombudsman Gutierrez". GMANews.TV.
  11. Legaspi, Anita. (September 7, 2010). "House panel gives full okay to impeach raps vs Ombudsman". GMANews.TV.
  12. Dalangin-Fernandez, Lira. (September 1, 2010). "2 impeach raps vs Ombudsman sufficient in form—House panel". INQUIRER.net.
  13. Dedace, Sophia. (September 13, 2010). "Ombudsman asks SC to block impeachment proceedings". GMANews.TV.
  14. (September 14, 2010). "SC suspends impeachment proceedings vs Ombudsman".
  15. Torres, Tetch. (February 15, 2011). "Ombudsman impeach raps get SC green light". INQUIRER.net.
  16. Dedace, Sophia. (February 28, 2011). "Ombudsman appeals SC ruling on impeachment case". GMANews.TV.
  17. Cruz, RG. (March 1, 2011). "Merci's allies lose in showdown on impeachment". ABS-CBNNews.com.
  18. Romero, Paolo. (March 9, 2011). "House finds cause to impeach Merci". [[The Philippine Star]].
  19. Calonzo, Andreo. (March 22, 2011). "House impeaches Ombudsman for betrayal of public trust". GMANews.TV.
  20. (March 23, 2011). "House transmits impeachment articles to Senate". GMANews.TV.
  21. Tan, Kimberly Jane. (April 29, 2011). "Ombudsman Merci resigns, 10 days before Senate trial". GMA News Online.
  22. (April 30, 2011). "Senate shelves Ombudsman's impeachment trial". ABS-CBNNews.com.
  23. Dalangin-Fernandez, Lira. (October 16, 2011). "House okays P1.645-trillion budget for 2011". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
  24. Torrezoga, Hannah. (December 14, 2010). "Senate ratifies national budget". [[Manila Bulletin]].
  25. Porcalla, Delon. (December 28, 2010). "P-Noy signs into law P1.645-trillion budget, vetoes 13 items". [[Philippine Star]].
  26. Ager, Maila. (January 27, 2011). "Reyes got P50M as ‘send-off’ money, says AFP exec". INQUIRER.net.
  27. (February 1, 2011). "Whistle-blower says former Chief of Staff got $4.64 million send-off money". AsiaOne News.
  28. (February 2, 2011). "Former auditor details money trail". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
  29. Dalangin-Fernandez, Lira. (February 8, 2011). "House probe on Garcia plea deal proceeds amid Reyes' death". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
  30. Cruz, RG. (February 8, 2011). "Mendoza details more misuse of AFP funds". ABS-CBNNews.com.
  31. Burgonio, TJ. (February 24, 2011). "Senate probe shifts to Ligot brother-in-law". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
  32. Ager, Maila. (March 21, 2011). "Wife of former military comptroller testifies, finally". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
  33. Burgonio, TJ. (March 25, 2011). "Senate holds Ligots in contempt". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
  34. (March 29, 2011). "Ligot wife cites ‘Dara’ as frequent travel buddy". GMA News Online.
  35. (March 29, 2011). "Senate releases ex-AFP comptroller Ligot". GMA News Online.
  36. Avendaño, Christine O.. (February 7, 2011). "Aquino asks Congress to postpone ARMM polls to 2013". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  37. (March 22, 2011). "Palace lauds swift passage of ARMM poll postponement bill". [[Manila Bulletin]].
  38. (April 6, 2011). "Senate to tackle bill postponing ARMM polls". ABS-CBNNews.com.
  39. (May 3, 2010). "SC orders Palace, Congress to comment on ARMM poll postponement". [[Philippine Star]].
  40. Legaspi, Amita. (November 24, 2010). "House panel starts tackling controversial RH bill". GMA News Online.
  41. Calonzo, Andreo. (January 31, 2011). "House panel approves RH bill for plenary debates". GMA News Online.
  42. Calonzo, Andreo. (February 16, 2011). "House panel okays proposed initial funding for RH bill". GMA News Online.
  43. Calonzo, Andreo. (March 8, 2011). "Questions of quorum, dress code stall RH bill debates in House". GMA News Online.
  44. Calonzo, Andreo. (March 23, 2011). "RH bill authors agree to make sex education optional". GMA News Online.
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