Rappler's latest stories on House of Representatives of the Philippines
Lawmaker slams DSWD for distribution policies that caused crowds
Making cash aid beneficiaries line up at distribution points could have caused COVID-19 transmission, says Anakalusugan Representative Mike Defensor
After Ressa conviction, lawmaker seeks 1-year prescription period for cyber libel
Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez says explicitly putting this in the Cybercrime Law would ''put to rest the issue of prescription of the crime of cyber libel'
Lawmakers' changing of anti-terror bill vote has 'no more bearing' – Villafuerte
Villafuerte – among the closest allies of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano in the House – slams his colleagues for changing their votes
Some House members' votes on anti-terror bill incorrectly recorded
Most of the House members voted on the anti-terrorism bill through Zoom or a Viber group chat, methods that are prone to errors when there are a total of 302 lawmakers
2 more House employees get infected with coronavirus
The two cases are a couple working at the House's Engineering Department and Printing Service Office, where two other workers previously acquired COVID-19
House passes P1.5-trillion infra stimulus package to curb unemployment
Under House Bill No. 6920, the government can tap into the fund for 3 fiscal years upon enactment. If passed this year, the funds will be valid until the end of the Duterte administration in 2022.
House OKs bill on coronavirus testing for vulnerable sectors
The bill includes non-medical frontliners and quarantine pass holders who do not exhibit symptoms among those to be prioritized for testing
House OKs on 2nd reading bill on post-pandemic ‘better normal’
Violators stand to face possible 1 to 2 months' jail time or a fine ranging from P1,000 up to P50,000
House approves P1.3-trillion economic stimulus package vs pandemic
44 of the country's biggest business groups back the ARISE Philippines bill, but progressive lawmakers argue that it would only be a Band-aid solution to unemployment
House OKs on 2nd reading P1.5-trillion infra spending bill vs pandemic
The bill is designed to complement the Balik Probinsya program to help address unemployment caused by the coronavirus crisis
Anti-terror bill one step away from House final approval
Lawmakers are bent on ratifying the bill into law before Congress adjourns on Friday, June 5.
House one step away from passing P1.3-trillion stimulus package vs pandemic
Lawmakers also approve on 2nd reading a bill requiring the government to prioritize for COVID-19 testing certain ‘vulnerable’ sectors, including Filipino workers
Duterte certifies as urgent anti-terrorism bill feared to clamp down on basic rights
Security officials want the controversial law passed before Congress adjourns on June 5
Fears of losing freedoms escalate as Congress rushes to pass anti-terror bill
The bill would empower a council of top cabinet officials to do functions usually reserved for the courts, like ordering the warrantless arrest and detention of people and groups perceived to be terrorists
House joint committee adopts Senate version of toughened anti-terrorism bill
(UPDATED) The move fast-tracks the passage of a proposed law that broadens the definition of terrorism and heightens punishment of convicted terrorists, but which the opposition sees as a clampdown on dissent
Netizens hit Marcoleta's 'distasteful' use of Kim Chiu video at ABS-CBN hearing
'Using Kim Chiu's controversial statement to deliver your point is distasteful humor and a form of shaming that is uncalled for,' says a netizen
House panel chair to DILG: 'Cha-Cha can wait'
Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez says lawmakers would rather focus on measures 'that will save lives and the livelihood of our people' during the pandemic
House drops bill granting interim franchise to ABS-CBN
(UPDATED) Instead, the House of Representatives will immediately resume hearings on the bills granting a new 25-year franchise for ABS-CBN, says Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano
House leaders push P1.5-trillion infra spending bill for post-pandemic PH
This proposed fiscal package aims to ensure that businesses will continue operating while also reviving consumer confidence
House eyes P485-B stimulus package to cushion coronavirus impact
Lawmakers want to allot P20 billion alone to facilitate massive COVID-19 testing even after the lifting of the lockdown
Face masks, physical distancing: House bill sets 'new normal' in post-lockdown PH
If passed into law, the proposed New Normal for the Workplace and Public Spaces Act of 2020 will be effective for 3 years or sooner, once a 'viable vaccine has contained or eradicated COVID-19'
House goes after 'malicious' Twitter account over false coronavirus news
Twitter user @house_files is deactivated minutes after House Secretary General Luis Montales says they would prosecute the people behind the account that had used the official House seal
House honors PH repatriation team for 'heroism' in Wuhan mission
The 10-member team 'exhibited a strong sense of compassion for our kababayan and nationalism that motivated them to volunteer their services and expertise to undertake this critical mission' to Wuhan, China, says House Resolution 711
House bills seek P2-B fund for DOH to buy masks, protective equipment
House committee on ways and means chair Joey Salceda also wants to allot P20 million for the hazard pay of epidemiologists on the frontlines of battling the novel coronavirus
Cayetano’s charm offensive in House shields him from SEA Games backlash
Once the least trusted among the bets for Speaker, Alan Peter Cayetano works double time to woo House members. His tactics seem to be paying off.
Bill increasing pay for gov't workers starting 2020 now up for Duterte's signature
(UPDATED) If passed into law, the House bill would also require government offices to grant employees a mid-year bonus equivalent to a month's basic salary as of May 15 of the given year
Bicam approves P4.1-trillion 2020 national budget
The Senate and the House of Representatives are expected to ratify the bicam report on the 2020 budget on Wednesday, December 11, during their respective sessions
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
High risk, high return: House to probe online gambling boom
House ways and means committee chairman Joey Salceda says they are 'quietly studying' online gambling risks, adding that the industry already comprises nearly 1% of gross domestic product
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
Losing bet wants Marikina congresswoman Stella Quimbo disqualified
(UPDATED) The camp of Congresswoman Stella Quimbo says former ABS representative Eugene de Vera should 'move on and accept the will of the people of Marikina,' where Quimbo won almost 85% of the total votes
Cayetano to PDP-Laban bloc: Join me in 'very exciting journey'
'I hope you stay beside me and not behind me. We will do this together,' Taguig-Pateros Representative Alan Peter Cayetano tells the lawmakers
Cayetano: 'No ill feelings' over divisive speakership race
'I look at everyone like a father looks at his child or an older brother to the younger brother,' Taguig-Pateros Representative Alan Peter Cayetano tells a group of lawmakers mostly allied with Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez
Paolo Duterte abandons speakership bid
Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte says he arrived at the decision after he and his father, President Rodrigo Duterte, 'agreed that this will not be the right time for me to be Speaker'
Paolo Duterte, 8 other lawmakers form 'Duterte Coalition' in House
The newly-formed Duterte Coalition urges Cabinet officials not to get involved in the speakership race
PDP-Laban open to term-sharing but Velasco should be Speaker first
Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, PDP-Laban president, says this will 'help settle the issue of House Speaker which has been dragging for a considerable period of time'
Paolo vying for speakership? Panelo says Duterte may not resign after all
'You make a stand on the basis of circumstances. When those circumstances change, you change your stand,' says Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo of President Duterte's promise to resign if his son joins the speakership race
Duterte says he greenlighted Cayetano-Velasco term-sharing
President Rodrigo Duterte confirms he proposed the term-sharing agreement but maintains he is sticking to his recent decision to let House members decide on the next Speaker
'Pinakawalanghiya': Opposition hits House's draft charter
Anakpawis Representative Ariel Casilao says the proposed constitution 'represents everything that is wrong with our government'
Arroyo denies charter change railroaded in House
Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo says the House of Representatives' moves to amend the 1987 Constitution are 'part of the democratic process'
Highlights of the House's draft federal constitution
(UPDATED) Here are the key provisions under each article of the draft federal charter authored by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and 21 other lawmakers
Robredo camp: 'Outright ridiculous' to remove VP as Duterte's successor
'Since when did a pending election protest become the basis of succession to the highest position of the land?' asks Romulo Macalintal, election lawyer of Vice President Leni Robredo
Nograles praises House realignment of P51 billion in DPWH funds
House committee on appropriations chairperson Karlo Nograles makes the statement even if the committee of the whole – which realigned the funds – was convened to overrule the panel he chairs
Shouting match erupts in House meeting over 2019 budget
House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya, Camarines Sur 2nd District Luis Raymund Villafuerte, and committee on appropriations chairperson Karlo Nograles clash over the 2019 budget
DOLE seeks higher budget to hire 2,000 labor inspectors
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III says the budget department turned down their proposal to hire more labor inspectors
Arroyo 'not advocating' lower tariffs on meat
Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo says the proposal was discussed with economic managers but the Department of Agriculture is against it
House to pass resolution on separate voting for charter change
(2ND UPDATE) Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo files the resolution on Tuesday, August 7, calling for a Constituent Assembly but specifying that the House and the Senate would vote separately
Arroyo pushes lower tariffs on meat, fish to ease inflation
Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pitches 5 solutions to temper high prices in a meeting with the country's economic managers
Speaker Alvarez’s waves of interest in Siargao
If Davao del Norte is getting too crowded politically, is it time for Alvarez to look elsewhere and start planning for his future?
Con-Ass railroaded? ‘Unfair, unfounded’ – Fariñas
The House Majority Leader says more than enough time was given for members of the House to deliberate on the proposal
