VETERAN HOUSE LEADERS MENTOR NEW SOLONS ON RESPONSIBLE LAWMAKING

INCOMING Representatives to the 20th Congress were treated to a crash course on responsible lawmaking on the second day of the Executive Course on Legislation (ECL) Tuesday.

Reelected Davao de Oro Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora led the discussion on the legislative role in the national budget process. She provided an overview of the structure and flow of the national budget, explaining how Congress participates in its preparation, passage and implementation.

Former House Secretary General and current Civil Service Commission (CSC) chairperson Marilyn Barua-Yap, reminded legislators that being a representative is not a position of privilege, but a trust granted by the people that must be exercised with humility and responsibility.

She advised attendees that they must “be heard” and remain accountable to the people at all times, stressing that their government position demands constant transparency and integrity.

“Gagawin mo pa lang, mag-account ka na. Papaano mag-account? Report, inform. You fail if you don’t report and you don’t inform. You explain why you are filing this bill. You justify why you are filing this bill. Anong value nito sa tao,” she stated.

Former Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, who chaired the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs in the 19th Congress, emphasized that committee work is the lifeblood of the legislative system. He described legislative committees as the institutional backbone of the lawmaking process.

“Much of the work are actually done in the committees. Laws are crafted in the committee level. Lahat ho ay nagsasama-sama sa committee in order to craft a legislation that would serve the common interest of the people,” he said.

Barbers also highlighted key aspects of committee operations, such as the rules on membership, attendance and the quorum needed to conduct meetings.

He discussed the functions of executive sessions, the Committee of the Whole, the conduct of both regular and special meetings, while explaining how proposed measures are taken up and acted upon in committees.

Department of Education Undersecretary Ronald Mendoza provided insights into the current state of education, underscoring key issues and areas that are in need of immediate review and reform.

The ECL was organized by the House of Representatives, in partnership with the National College of Public Administration and Governance of the University of the Philippines, to help incoming representatives prepare for the lawmaking process. The 20th Congress will officially begin on July 28, 2025.