Committee Daily Bulletin
Vol. II No. 94
A publication of the Committee Affairs Department
March 16, 2015
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
COMMITTEE
Basic Education
and Culture
MEASURES
PRINCIPAL
NO.
AUTHOR
HB 443
Rep. Tinio
SUBJECT MATTER
ACTION TAKEN/DISCUSSION
Regulating class size in all public schools
and appropriating funds therefor
The Committee, presided by Rep. Mariano
Piamonte Jr. (Party-List, A TEACHER),
approved HB 443.
HBs 848,
849, 4718 &
4771
Rep. Vargas
Establishing national high schools in
Barangays Nagkaisang Nayon, Gulod,
Kaligayahan and Greater Fairview, all in
Quezon City, and appropriating funds
therefor
The Committee approved HBs 848, 849, 4718
and 4771 subject to compliance with the
requirements set by the Department of
Education (DepEd) for the creation of national
high schools.
HB 4894
Rep.
Fuentebella
Converting the Villafuerte-Peña High
School in Barangay Ponglon, San Jose,
Camarines Sur into a national technicalvocational high school to be known as the
Juan C. Peña National TechnicalVocational High School, and appropriating
funds therefor
The Committee approved HB 4894 subject to
compliance with the requirements set by the
DepEd for the conversion of national high
schools.
HB 4977
Rep. Teodoro
Establishing an elementary school in
Barangay Tañong, Marikina City, to be
known as the Tañong Elementary School,
appropriating funds therefor
The Committee approved HB 4977 subject to
compliance with the requirements set by the
DepEd for the creation of elementary schools.
On the guidelines of the Department of
Education (DepEd) in the hiring of
teachers
The Committee terminated its deliberations on
the motu proprio inquiry into the guidelines set
by the DepEd in the hiring of teachers.
Motu Proprio
Inquiry
Rep. Harlin Abayon (1st District, Northern
Samar), who called for this motu proprio
inquiry, expressed satisfaction with the draft
guidelines submitted by the DepEd. He said
the Department clarified its position regarding
the prioritization of teacher-applicants who are
residents in the area where the school with
vacant teacher positions is located.
Rep. Estrellita Suansing (1st District, Nueva
Ecija) suggested to the DepEd to officially
inform the teacher-applicant of the results of
his/her written examination, teaching
demonstration, and interview as well as the
status of his/her application to show
transparency and avoid allegations of giving
undue preference to other applicants.
Rep. Pryde Henry Teves (3rd District, Negros
Oriental) also suggested that the DepEd keep
a recording of oral teaching demonstrations
and make it accessible to the applicants.
Taking advantage of the presence of DepEd
officials, Rep. Suansing reiterated the request
of Committee Chair Rep. Kimi Cojuangco (5th
Continuation…
Basic Education
and Culture
District, Pangasinan) for the DepEd, together
with the structural engineers of the
Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH), to conduct and immediate inspection
of the Bayambang National High School in
Pangasinan to assess the safety of the newly
built school building; and to furnish Rep.
Cojuangco with their reports on the findings.
Likewise, Rep. Teves reiterated his request to
the DepEd to rectify the imposition of the
“lesson plan policy” in Region VII.
He also requested the DepEd to furnish the
Members the actual expenditure of the budget
for miscellaneous and other expenses (MOOE)
of all schools, and to make this information
accessible to the Parent-Teacher Associations
(PTAs) and barangay officials so that they can
be made aware of the purchases of and
expenses incurred by school heads.
Games and
Amusements
(Technical
Working Group)
HBs 1454 &
4540
Reps. Amante &
Pagdilao
Regulating Internet gambling operations in
the Philippines and providing penalties for
its violation
The technical working group (TWG), presided
by Rep. Samuel Pagdilao (Party-List, ACTCIS), agreed to create a small group to
harmonize the provisions of the two bills.
The representatives from the Office of Rep.
Erlpe John “Ping” Amante (2nd District, Agusan
del Norte), Philippine Amusement and Gaming
Corporation (PAGCOR), Cagayan Economic
Zone Authority (CEZA) and the Philippine
National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group
agreed that there is a need to regulate internet
gambling.
Lawyer Robert Lucila, senior executive
assistant of PAGCOR, and Jay Ordoña,
department manager for planning of CEZA,
said that their respective charters provide for
the regulation of any type of gambling,
including internet gambling.
Rep. Pagdilao remarked that the regulation of
internet gambling should be the concern of the
PAGCOR and CEZA while law enforcement
should be the concern of the PNP and the
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). He
also cited the need to study how minors
should be prevented from having access to
internet gambling.
InterParliamentary
Relations and
Diplomacy
HR 1947
Rep. Del Mar
Organizing
the
Philippines-Israel
Parliamentarians’ Friendship Association
The Committee, chaired by Rep. Raul Del Mar
(1st District, Cebu City), adopted HR 1947
subject to style and amendment.
Expressing support for the resolution, Director
Maria Cynthia Pelayo of the Office of Middle
East and African Affairs of the Department of
Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that the
establishment of the Philippines-Israel
Parliamentarians’ Friendship Association will
strengthen the two countries’ bilateral ties and
will be helpful in accomplishing the goals in
the “road map” for future cooperation with
Israel.
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Continuation…
InterParliamentary
Relations and
Diplomacy
Pelayo said the road map, being crafted by
the two countries, identifies priority areas of
cooperation including political, economic,
development, science and technology, labor,
and defense and security.
On some information indicated in HR 1947,
Pelayo sought their correction by submitting
the following facts: Based on the records of
the DFA, the diplomatic relations between the
Philippines and Israel formally commenced on
August 9, 1957; and the Philippines-Israel
Joint Commission meetings have concluded
18 agreements.
With the information given by the DFA, the
Committee amended HR 1947 accordingly.
COMMITTEE
Legislative
Franchises
(Technical
Working Group)
TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP MEETINGS
MEASURES
SUBJECT MATTER
PRINCIPAL
NO.
AUTHOR
Draft
Reps. Teodoro,
Further amending Presidential Decree No.
Substitute
Arnaiz,
1869, as amended by Republic Act 9487,
Bill to HBs
Romualdo &
otherwise known as the Charter of the
1508, 2349,
Deputy Speaker Philippine Amusement and Gaming
2743 & 4311 Aggabao
Corporation (PAGCOR)
ACTION TAKEN/ DISCUSSION
The technical working group (TWG), presided
by Deputy Speaker Giorgidi Aggabao (4th
District, Isabela), terminated its deliberations
on the draft substitute bill.
The bill will be presented to the mother
Committee for consideration and approval.
The TWG agreed on the following
amendments to the PAGCOR Charter:
 Require gaming entities and
gambling casinos to obtain a
legislative franchise before a license
to operate can be issued by
PAGCOR;
 Authorize the Commission on Audit
(COA) to conduct an audit of the
transactions of PAGCOR;
 Require PAGCOR licensees of
gambling casinos to submit their
annual reports to Congress; and
 Grant
PAGCOR
quasi-judicial
authority as the regulatory body of
gaming
and
gambling
establishments.
The following proposals were not resolved and
will be elevated to the mother Committee for
decision: exempting small gaming players from
obtaining a legislative franchise; and allocating
to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) 5%
of PAGCOR’s aggregate gross earnings, as
proposed by Rep. Neri Colmenares (Party-List,
BAYAN MUNA).
The Chair reiterated the Committee’s request
for PAGCOR to submit information clarifying
the different modes of gaming/gambling as
well as its position on the proposal of Rep.
Colmenares.
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Local
Government
(Technical
Working Group)
Draft
Substitute
Bill to HBs
55, 158,
180, 198,
313, 325,
500, 816,
1007, 1097,
1313, 1336,
1422, 1520,
1618, 1655,
1693, 1764,
1887, 2025,
2046, 2395,
2420, 2695,
2756, 2822,
3193, 3763,
3816, 4353,
4712, 4722,
5005, 5026
& 5245
Bia
Reps. Benitez,
Yap (S.),
Colmenares, Yap
(A.), MacapagalArroyo (G.),
Suarez, Biazon,
Briones, Fortuno,
Sy-Alvarado,
Escudero, Gullas,
Abayon, Teodoro,
Rodriguez (R.),
Villarica,
Nograles, Violago,
Enverga, Acop,
Deloso-Montalla,
Collantes, Bello
(S.), Loyola,
Castelo, Haresco,
Alvarez,
Suansing, Guiao,
Villar, Leonardia,
Gerona-Robredo,
Oaminal &
Gatchalian (S.)
Providing all barangay officials, including
barangay tanods, and members of the
Lupon ng Tagapamayapa, a lump sum
gratuity pay equivalent to P100,000.00
and other non-monetary benefits,
amending for the purpose Section 393 of
RA 7160, as amended, otherwise known
as the Local Government Code of 1991
The technical working group (TWG), chaired
by Rep. Raneo Abu (2nd District, Batangas),
approved the draft substitute bill subject to
style and amendment. The substitute bill will
be reported out to the mother Committee for its
consideration and approval.
Upon the suggestion of Rep. Henry Oaminal
(2nd District, Misamis Occidental), the TWG
agreed that the age requirement for the
entitlement of a lump sum pay equivalent to
one year honorarium (Section 1 Paragraph 6)
should be deleted.
He said that all barangay officials should
receive this lump sum benefit even if they have
not yet reached the age of 60 as long as they
have served for nine consecutive years.
Rep. Oaminal further suggested that the lump
sum gratuity be classified according to
positions of barangay officials, wherein the
barangay captain will have higher benefit than
the other officials. He likewise manifested that
the P100,000.00 cap be applicable only to
component cities. Highly urbanized and
urbanized cities should be granted a higher
amount considering the higher cost of living as
compared to the component cities, he added.
However, Rep. Aleta Suarez (3rd District,
Quezon) said that the deletion of the age
requirement should be studied further as it
would entail a huge budgetary requirement.
Without the age requirement, the lump sum
benefit may be availed of by barangay officials
every time they complete nine consecutive
years of service in such position.
On the franking privilege proposed to be
granted to barangay officials, lawyer Joselito
Gonzalez, representative of the Philippine
Postal Corporation (PHLPOST), said that it will
mean a forgone revenue for the Corporation of
around P294 million. If the national
government will compensate this foregone
revenue, the Corporation will withdraw its
objection, he further said.
The members of the TWG agreed that the
franking privilege be granted to barangay
officials, which means that the latter shall be
exempt from the payment of postage on official
mails. The legislators persuaded PHLPOST to
reconsider its position since the figure for
foregone revenue cited by Gonzalez is only
based on estimates and may not be accurate
after all.
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SUBCOMMITTE MEETING
COMMITTEE
Subcommittee on Air
Transportation
(Committee on
Transportation)
SUBJECT MATTER
DISCUSSIONS
Continuation of the review, audit and
evaluation of the performance of agencies
involved in aviation with the end goal of
recommending permanent and viable solutions
to the problems of the industry
The Subcommittee on Air Transportation, chaired by Committee on
Transportation Vice Chair Rep. Al Francis Bichara (2nd District, Albay),
resolves to recommend to the Civil Aviation Authority of the
Philippines (CAAP) the reopening of Runway 31 of the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport (NAIA) in answer to the persistent problem of air
traffic congestion in the country’s prime gateway.
Except for Air Asia which expressed reservations, the Subcommittee
was assured by other private airlines, including the Philippine Airlines
(PAL), Cebu-Pacific Air and Tiger Airways, that allowing the use of
Runway 31 for aircarft departure purposes will certainly help, if not
totally eliminate, the problem of flight delays.
Capt. Manuel Antonio Tamayo, vice president for flight operations of
PAL, contends that the problem of congestion started when Runway
31 was closed sometime in August 2014.
Rep. Francis Ashley Acedillo (Party-List, MAGDALO) called for a
more permanent solution to the air traffic congestion at the NAIA,
citing the study of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
which projects that the problem will “catastrophically worsen” in 10 to
15 years.
Rep. Acedillo points out that the development of another international
airport facility nearest Metro Manila may be the only long-term
solution to the problem.
Rep. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao (1st District, Pampanga), who has been
advocating the use of the Clark International Airport (CIA) in
Pampanga, stressed that the CIA is the best alternative to NAIA. He
claims that the CIA can accommodate as many as 5.5 million
passengers per year; and the CIA can be reached with far less travel
time (one and half hours from Manila to Clarkfield, Pampanga) than
the two to three hours of travel to NAIA due to heavy traffic along the
routes.
Rep. Rodel Batocabe (Party-List, AKO BICOL) inquired whether the
grant of incentives will convince airline comapnies to transfer their
operations to CIA.
According to Rep. Bichara, building a railway system connecting
Manila and Clarkfield and nearby provinces is being studied by the
government.
The airline industry stakeholders, however, said the NAIA remains to
be a safe and convenient airport facility, particularly for air passenger
transport, both domestic and international.
The stakeholders were requested to submit to the Committee their
views and recommendations on the proposal to reopen and use
Runway 31 and the possible grant of incentives to encourage airline
companies to transfer their operations from NAIA to CIA.
FORUM
COMMITTEE
Women and Gender
Equality
SUBJECT MATTER
Kababaihan at ang Inang Kalikasan: A Forum
on Women and the Environment
DISCUSSIONS
The Committee, chaired by Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica (4th District,
Bulacan), in coordination with Gabriela Women’s Party, conducted a
forum on women and the environment aptly dubbed “Kababaihan at
ang Inang Kalikasan” at the House of Representatives.
The forum was part of the activities lined up in celebration of the
Women’s month this March.
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Continuation…
Women and Gender
Equality
In welcoming the participants to the forum, Rep. Villarica emphasized
the role of women in taking care of the environment for the benefit of
their children. She discouraged women from using products
containing toxic chemicals such as lead, asbestos, chromium, cyanide
and cadmium which put at risk their and their children’s health
including that of the unborn children.
Clemente Bautista, national coordinator of Kalikasan People’s
Network for the Environment, discussed the topic “Toxic Sources and
Contamination in the Philippines.” He pointed out the increased risk of
exposure to dangerous chemicals of residents in communities near
mining areas, coal power plants and military installations, which
produce toxic chemicals that are released in water and air.
Bautista warned that exposure to harmful chemicals can cause a
variety of illnesses such as lung disease, asbestosis (resulting from
exposure to asbestos), and skin problems; as well as miscarriage or
forced abortion for pregnant women and mental retardation among
children. It can even lead to death, he stressed, citing for example the
fact that less than a gram of cyanide can already kill a person.
Bautista recommended that environmental laws be strictly
implemented, proper waste facilities should be established, and
products with toxic content should be banned.
OTHER MATTERS
COMMITTEE
Metro Manila
Development
SUBJECT MATTER
DISCUSSIONS
Discussion on the different transport
infrastructure projects in Metro Manila
The Committee, chaired by Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo (2nd
District, Quezon City), continued its discussion on the different
transport infrastructure projects in Metro Manila.
The Chair and various Committee members sought an explanation on
the delayed construction of public-private partnership (PPP) projects
in Metro Manila which include the MRT-7 Line and the North Luzon
Expressway (NLEX)-South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Connector
Road.
Cosette Canilao, executive director of the PPP Center, confirmed the
delays in the project implementation but clarified that penalties will be
imposed against the private partners, or their contracts will be
terminated at the most, if they fail to meet their obligations under the
contract.
Some of the transport infrastructure projects being undertaken under
the PPP arrangement are:
 Integrated Transport System (ITS) – a central transport
terminal which will connect passengers from Southern
Luzon to various modes of transportation serving inner
Manila (under public bidding);
 NLEX-SLEX Connector Road – an integrated road passage
of the North and South Luzon Expressways which has been
approved by the National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA) Board; and
 Mass Transit System Loop – a project of the Department of
Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and so far the
biggest PPP project amounting to P370 billion. This will
connect the Bonifacio Global City, the Makati Central
Business District and Mall of Asia underground. This
project has been approved by the Investment Coordinating
Council (ICC) and is expected to be approved by the NEDA
Board this month; and
 MRT-7 Line – it will traverse Commonwealth Avenue,
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Continuation…
Metro Manila
Development
Fairview and Novaliches. The relocation of squatters and
right of way issues are among the impediments in the
implementation of the project.
Rep. Jose Atienza Jr. (Party-List, BUHAY) emphasized that the
Regional Development Council, which serves as the clearing house
for key regional development policies or program proposals like the
PPP projects, should hold consultations with the concerned district
representatives as early as the planning phase of PPP projects. Some
Members complained that they were not even informed about PPP
projects that are going to be implemented in their districts.
Commenting on the central transport terminal, Homer Mercado,
president of the Southern Luzon Bus Operators Association
(SOLUBOA), questioned how a five-hectare terminal area will be able
to accommodate some 3,000 additional buses that are supposed to
ply the metro route.

Likewise, Alex Yague, president of the Provincial Bus Operators
Association (PBOA), said the design of the terminals should be
convenient for passengers who carry heavy luggage. He said the
distance between the existing terminal for buses coming from the
South and the bus stops for buses going to inner Manila is at least
one kilometer.
The government agencies present were asked to submit to the
Committee a report on the status of the PPP projects as well as the
results of public consultations conducted with regard to these
projects.
Comments, suggestions and requests for copies may be sent to the Editorial Unit, Committee Administrative Support Service, 3rd
Floor, Ramon V. Mitra, Jr. Bldg., Batasan Complex, Constitution Hills, Quezon City. Tel. Nos. 9326118; 9315001 local 7122.
Also available at http://www.congress.gov.ph
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