Remarks of the Honorable Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

Christmas Break Adjournment of Session

16th Congress
December 18, 2014
My esteemed colleagues,
Let me extend my profound thanks for your steadfast dedication
to this chambers work throughout the year. Because of your hard
work, we were able to pass the General Appropriations Act, yet
again, on schedule. Since 2011, a re-enacted budget has
become a thing of the past. I trust that the timely passage of the
2015 GAA will enable the government to roll out its programs and
projects thereby ensuring the continued delivery of vital services
to our people.
Congratulations are also due for your efforts in assisting our
people during the most recent typhoon to hit our country, so close
to the Christmas season at that. Though this years Ruby was
less severe than last years Yolanda, Ruby nevertheless inflicted
losses in lives and property in no small measure.
The good news is that relief operations conducted by both
national and local governments were up and running before,
during, and after Rubys landfall.
The implementation of
emergency measures, including the prompt evacuation of
thousands of people in affected areas, was key to saving so many
lives.
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Underlying all these, I believe, is the strong spirit of solidarity

among Filipinos, especially during times of calamities and
disasters. That spirit shone bright once more.
Different families were helping each other seek shelter as Ruby
lashed at their communities. This good news of Filipinos helping
one another is heartwarming and humbling.
May I say, also, the approval of the supplemental budget for 2014
is also important because urgent infrastructure, socioeconomic
rehabilitation, and reconstruction projects, which are not funded in
existing laws, need to be funded and commenced at the earliest
possible time.
However, an even greater challenge to the rehabilitation of
typhoon-affected areas will be to provide the means by which
victims can be genuinely empowered. We should not merely
rebuild damaged infrastructure and property, or restore means of
livelihood, or resume disrupted classes. We should also restore
hope, confidence, and resolve in individuals, families and
communities. It is only through genuine empowerment that our
people can truly live their own lives, fend for their own families,
and carve their own future.
We need to be able to provide more jobs and opportunities for our
people. Indeed, we can never be satisfied with the status quo.
We must continually move forward with the transformation of our
economy and society.

On that regard, I am encouraged by the performance of our 16 th

Congress. Our harvest of meaningful and responsive legislation
reflects your consistent hard work.
As of December 17, 2014, we have processed 1,688 measures.
Of these measures, 20 were enacted into laws and 350 were
approved on Third Reading.
Notably, apart from the 2015 GAA that provides for the most
transparent and most detailed budget we have ever had, we have
enacted key laws that bear on our countrys economic growth and
productivity:
RA 10635 Establishing the MARINA as the Single Maritime
Administration
RA 10638 Extending the Corporate Life of Philippine
National Railways For Another Fifty Years
RA 10641 Allowing the Full Entry of Foreign Banks
RA 10644 Promoting Job Generation and Inclusive Growth
Through the Development of Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises
RA 10645 An Act Providing For the Mandatory PhilHealth
Coverage For All Senior Citizens

 RA 10647 Strengthening the Ladderized Interface Between

Technical-Vocational Education and Training and Higher
Education
RA 10648 Providing Scholarship Grants to Top Graduates
of All Public High Schools
Of course, there remains no room for complacency even as we
continue to push vital measures. Recently, we assured members
of the Joint Foreign and Local Chambers of Commerce of our
continuous support and action on measures which pursue greater
economic competitiveness, trade and job generation, and
sustained economic growth.
I am pleased to note that remarkable progress has been made on
a number of these priority measures. Most of the House Bills
backed by business and the private sector have been approved or
close to being approved by concerned committees.
I am also happy to inform everyone that we are about to transmit
to the President the bill that would increase the tax exemption cap
for 13th month pay and other benefits. This would benefit the
working class from both public and private sectors in terms of
higher disposable income, and boost the economy in terms of
greater consumption expenditures.
The further growth of our economy and improvement of the
welfare of our people cannot happen in an environment where
peace and stability are not genuinely widespread. This is why our
continuing work on the Bangsamoro Basic Law is very important.
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I am pleased that we unanimously passed on Third and Final

Reading a measure providing for the inclusion of Moro History,
Culture, and Identity Studies as an elective subject in the higher
education curriculum.
Indeed, even as we are about to go on our Christmas break, let
us take healthy pride in what we have accomplished together.
Once more, let me express my deepest and sincerest gratitude
for your support and hard work. We have been showing that we
have the capacity to do it. Lets do it!
Let us all continue to work for authentic economic and social
measures that will transform our nation and our people. Let us
see this good work that we have started through to its desired
conclusion.
Storms of all natures are bound to happen. Nevertheless, let us
remain united. Let us allow the light of the holiday season to
dispel clouds of negativity and pessimism. I am very sure of it.
Lets do more!
Sa aking mga minamahal na mga kapwa Kinatawan dito sa
Kongreso, sana ay magkaroon kayo ng makabuluhan at
matiwasay na Kapaskuhan; at sa nalalapit na Bagong Taon,
naway higit pa tayong pagpalain ng ating Panginoong Maykapal.
Maraming salamat.