Rappler's latest stories on Congress of the Philippines
Congress transmits anti-terrorism bill to Malacañang
(UPDATED) The anti-terrorism bill is now awaiting the signature of the President, unless he vetoes it. If he decides not to act on it, the bill will lapse into law after 30 days from receipt.
Calida: Blame Congress, not me, for off-the-air ABS-CBN
'Why hasn’t Congress acted on it? Who is at fault here?' says Solicitor General Jose Calida the morning after a cease and desist order silences the Philippine broadcast behemoth
Congress holds first-ever 'hybrid' session
The two chambers of Congress take different routes in adopting teleconferencing as part of their proceedings
Congress reins in Duterte's special budget powers
Cures and fixes notwithstanding, the new law may still be unnecessary because it is superfluous
Lawmakers ask DOF, BIR: Don’t be ‘heartless,' extend tax filing deadline
'Hindi kami nanghihingi ng pera. Magbabayad kami ng buwis. Pero huwag mo naman sabihin sa amin na magbayad kami 2 araw matapos ang quarantine na in-impose niyo,' says Congressman Joey Salceda
Coronavirus outbreak not an excuse to fire workers – TUCP
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines also urges the labor department to ensure industry councils craft measures that would help workers cope with the novel coronavirus crisis
Congress passes bill requiring GMRC in K to 12 curriculum
The bill is now up for the President's signature
Thousands may lose jobs due to COVID-19 impact on business – TUCP
'The PAL retrenchment is just the beginning of the bigger adverse economic effect of the escalating outbreak of COVID-19 phenomenon, says the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines
HRET junks poll protest vs Northern Samar congressman Daza
The tribunal says Harlin Abayon's election case against Northern Samar 1st District Representative Paul Daza was 'insufficient in form and substance'
Labor group pushes 25% hazard pay for workers amid Taal unrest
The proposal covers workers in banks, hotels, and restaurants, and other similar establishments in Tagaytay City; and journalists covering the Taal Volcano eruption
TUCP pushes for 'early escape plan' for 1.2M OFWs in Middle East
'There is no harm in being prepared, identifying contingency measures, and taking due diligence in anticipation of a worst-case scenario in the Middle East,' says the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines
Labor group asks Duterte: Waive entrance fees to SEA Games
The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines says letting Filipinos watch the SEA Games for free can foster 'renewed patriotism' and 'national healing' amid complaints about the preparations for the regional event
Supreme Court: Same-sex marriage an issue better resolved by Congress
The 113-page ponencia lists a barrage of gender-specific laws that may be disturbed by ruling same-sex marriage as legal, and says these may be matters of policy better left to legislation
Labor groups slam House bill proposing 2-year probationary period for workers
Congressman Bonito Singson's bill is a 'cheap trick' to deprive workers of their rights, say Defend Job Philippines, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, and Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino
TUCP fears job losses under Citira bill
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines urges government agencies to put in place a 'genuine transition program' for displaced workers before Citira's implementation – not after
Congress goes on monthlong break, with rice farmers left hanging
'The farmers need relief now, as next year, they might no longer go into farming,' says Jessica Reyes Cantos, president of Action for Economic Reforms
House, Senate bills want President to appoint 'designated survivor'
Quezon City 2nd District Representative Precious Hipolito Castelo and Senator Panfilo Lacson file versions of the bill in the 18th Congress
Labor groups to DOLE: SOGIE workplace policy needed
(UPDATED) The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and Sentro make the call after the arrest of transgender woman Gretchen Custodio Diez at a Quezon City mall
House, Senate eye 'zero veto' in 18th Congress
'Hopefully, we can avoid any possibility of a presidential veto by working closely with Cabinet members and Senate officials,' says House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez
TUCP asks Duterte to consider workers affected by crackdown on PCSO games
Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines appeals to President Rodrigo Duterte to institute reforms in the agency as soon as possible to avoid compromising workers' livelihoods
Workers forgotten in SONA? TUCP says labor not Duterte's policy priority
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines says there were no marching orders from the President on 'matters that concern the daily lives of workers'
We must rally behind Robredo, Pangilinan tells LP bloc in House
(6th UPDATE) 'We urge our fellow lawmakers at the House of Representatives to seriously consider where they stand in the face of the harassment and persecution brought upon our party chairperson,' says Senator Francis Pangilinan
18th Congress, by the numbers
After the 2019 polls, the ruling party PDP-Laban and its allies take both the Senate and the House
On Labor Day, rival groups ask voters to elect senators who 'truly' represent workers
Labor groups with varying political ideologies gather to express support for pro-worker senatorial candidates – a show of unity that they describe as 'historic'
It’s ‘abuse’ to prevent workers’ evacuation during earthquake – labor group
TUCP says it received complaints from call center workers who were not allowed to evacuate and were told to continue working after a magnitude 6.1 earthquake hit Luzon on Monday
TUCP warns employers vs hiring less women over maternity leave law
The labor group urges the government to keep a close watch over businesses after a survey showed that a majority of employers may be inclined not to hire women due to the Expanded Maternity Leave Law
Beyond legislation: Powers, roles of Philippine lawmakers
Congress plays a vital role in exacting accountability from other branches in government
Labor groups thank Henry Sy Sr as 'biggest job provider'
(UPDATED) 'We also recognize as part of his lasting legacy for workers and their families his last-minute efforts to commit to voluntarily regularize and directly hire thousands of SM employees into SM over a period of time,' a labor group says
Malacañang stands by Diokno, blames Congress for delayed salary hike
The Palace supports the stance of Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno – that implementing the 4th tranche of the government pay hike without a Congress-approved 2019 budget would be unconstitutional
[OPINION] Women in legislature: Do they really matter?
Let's do away with the stereotype that women will never be as good as men in the political arena
Congress adjourns, fails to pass 2019 budget on time
This means that in early 2019, the Philippine government would have to operate based on the 2018 budget
Malacañang thanks Congress for 3rd martial law extension
Extended military rule in Mindanao will allow the government to make 'substantial progress' in quelling 'rebellion' there, says Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo
Congress extends martial law in Mindanao to end of 2019
(UPDATED) This is the third extension of martial law in Mindanao granted to President Rodrigo Duterte
Duterte asks Congress for 1-year martial law extension
If lawmakers approve of this, Mindanao will be under martial law until December 31, 2019
Arroyo wants House to focus on checking implementation of laws
Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo says this is what lawmakers should do in the remaining months of the 17th Congress, to help the executive branch 'strive for maximum results in the shortest possible time'
Big chunk of 2017 intel funds spent by only 3 institutions – COA
These 3 institutions are the Office of the President, the Department of National Defense, and Congress
To avoid Duterte veto, Congress asks Palace to return coco levy bill to them
(UPDATED) Senators are blaming the fiasco on the supposed incompetence of Presidential Legislative Liaision Office Secretary Adelino Sitoy
Bicam approves bill to overhaul SSS Charter, expand powers
Senator Richard Gordon, one of the bill authors, says the passage of Senate Bill 1753 would 'expand, protect and increase the SSS fund so that when the time comes, there would be available pension for the people'
Labor groups enraged as Duterte sacks Leftist Usec Joel Maglunsod
(UPDATED) President Rodrigo Duterte fires Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod without explaining why, but mentions the rising number of workers' strikes in the country
Congressional leaders lukewarm to probing Trillanes amnesty revocation
Lawmakers are hoping Congress leaders will assert the independence of the legislative branch in the issue of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV's amnesty
LIVE: Congressional hearing on automated election system
The hearing on September 13 tackles the recommendations of the Comelec Advisory Council on how to enhance the automated polls in 2019
DBM, Congress agree on transitory cash-based budget system for 2019
Lawmakers want a 'two to three-year' transition period for government agencies and departments to get used to a cash-based budget system
DBM to wait for a 'friendlier' Congress to pass cash-based budget
'But [not passing the bill] is not a problem, we will just wait for a friendlier Congress. Remember there's an election in 2019? That's near,' says Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno
Congress to suspend session so Duterte can lower tariffs on fish, corn
President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to sign this August an executive order reducing the tariffs on fish and corn, says House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya
DBM ready for reenacted budget if Congress rejects 2019 proposal
(UPDATED) Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno says the President has submitted the proposed 2019 budget, leaving it to Congress to pass or reject it
Malacañang submits bill for disaster resilience department to Congress
The Palace's proposed bill creates the position of disaster resilience secretary and allows the new department to use alternative procurement methods during calamities
Duterte urges 'speedy passage' of universal health care bill
While the House has passed its version of the bill, the counterpart measure in the Senate is still pending in the committee level
Duterte submits proposed P3.757-trillion 2019 nat'l budget to Congress
The General Appropriations Act for the 2019 budget is slated to be passed into law by November
Senators to walk out if Con-Ass pushed in joint session
The Senate has a game plan should it happen: Senate President Vicente Sotto III will adjourn the session on the part of the chamber, with senators walking out of the hall
Labor group to Duterte: Hike wages amid shrinking purchasing power
Average minimum wage in the non-agricultural sector across all regions amount to P330.47 daily in April, but the actual purchasing power of Filipinos is only P208.38, says ALU-TUCP
