Rep. Aliping’s 100 days report

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

(Hereunder is the“First 100 Days Report” of Rep. Nicasio M. Aliping, Jr. after being sworn to office as congressman of Baguio City.)

Your elected representative has today reached his 100th day in office.

By now, expectations are high that results are to be delivered in much the same way as it is expected of an elected chief executive to deliver. Accomplishments in the legislature, though, are not immediately apparent. The legislative mill grinds gradually and deliberately. And it is at the end of the legislative process that results are achieved. Not at the beginning.

His performance as a legislator is thus measured in terms of the following indicators: (a) attendance and participation in plenary sessions; (b) stand on issues; (c) involvement in committee work; and (d) proposed measures. These are what you elected your congressman to do.

Your representative humbly reports that he has fared remarkably well in his first 100 days using these four indicators. Attendance and participation in plenary sessions

From the opening day of the 1st Regular Session of the 16th Congress up to the present, he has registered complete attendance in the plenary sessions, voting on measures according to what he considers will best serve the constituency. He intends to keep a perfect record of attendance to ensure that the City of Baguio is at all times represented in the halls of Congress.

Transparency and accountability characterize his stand on issues, whether national, regional or local. And the need for prior consultation underscores his pursuit of key pieces of legislation. He has co-authored the re-filed Freedom of Information Bill that seeks to implement the right of the people to information on matters of public concern.

He joined the group of neophyte congressmen who came together to signa manifesto openly expressing their “outrage over the scandalous revelations in the Napoles investigation and the COA special audit”, their being “incensed that the reprehensible actions of the public officials involved in these scams have besmirched the integrity of a number of institutions”, their call for “the fair and speedy investigation, prosecution, and conviction of those responsible for the plunder of the PDAF”, their support for the “abolition of the pork barrel”, and their commitment to the “push for inclusive growth” through “a more equitable distribution of the fruits of economic prosperity for all our citizens, throughout the different regions and across various sectors”.

He likewise co-authored the bill proposing to institutionalize a Criminal Investigation System and the proposed Philippine Code of Crimes. Both bills seek to institute reforms in the country’s criminal justice system.

On the issue of regional autonomy, he is one with the Representative of the Lone District of Benguet as with the rest of the Cordillera Representatives in calling for a more extensiveinformation, education and consultation campaign. Hestresses the need for unanimity among them before any bill providing for an organic act is filed or re-filed.

Still, he is presently working closely with the Representative of Benguet to hammer out legislation that will provide a growth corridor for the local government units comprising the BLISTT.  Their aim is to transform the BLISTT concept into reality by means of appropriate legislation.

As far as the City of Baguio is concerned, he is set to re-file the bill to Revise the Baguio City Charterhaving addressed the concerns raised in the President’s veto message of the earlier version of the bill. In accordance with your representative’s thrust to make legislation participatory and consultative, however, he has begun a series of consultations and dialogues with stakeholders, the latest of which was conducted on October 4, 2013 at the Sangguniang Panlungsod Session Hall,before he re-files the bill seeking to revise the Charter of the City of Baguio.

His membership in ten of the committees of the House of Representatives covers a wide range across varied areas of legislation. The committees include:Committee, Higher and Technical Education, North Luzon Growth Quadrangle, Appropriations, Bases Conversion, Energy, Justice, National Cultural Communities, Revision of Laws, Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, Ways and Means.                                                          

His attendance and participation in Committee meetings and hearings, even if the schedules are hectic, have begun to bear fruit. As a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, he was able to include in the 2014 Budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways funding for additional projects in Baguio City. These projects include the construction of a rubberized track and field oval at the Burnham Park Athletic Bowl, the construction of multi-purpose covered courts at Quirino Hill Barangay and Bakakeng Central Barangay, and the construction of several farm to market roads, all of which projects will be implemented by the DPWH.

He was likewise able to secure the commitment of the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications during the budget deliberations in the Committee on Appropriations to provide funding for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Loakan Airport.

As a member of the Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, he has contributed to the early passage of the law postponing the SK elections, the first Republic Act enacted by the 16th Congress.

He will continue participating actively in meetings and hearings conducted by the Committees of which he is a member.

Proposed bills

The bills that he has authored or co-authored place importance not so much on the number but on the substance that goes into each legislative measure.In the field of education, he has proposed the creation of the PamantasanngLungsodng Baguio to provide tertiary education, and the creation of the Irisan Technical Vocational High Schoolto provide skills training, to poor but deserving students in the City of Baguio.

Also proposed is the inclusion of Basic Financial Management and Entrepreneurship as Separate Subjects in the Elementary and High School Curricula.

In the matter of public health, the establishment of a Program to Reduce the Rate of Infant Mortality, the proposal to ensure Every Pregnant Woman’s Access to a Skilled Birth Attendant at the Time of Childbirth, and prescribing the printing of Textual Health Warnings on Tobacco Products are noteworthy.

In the provision of welfare benefits,proposals to GrantAdditional Benefits toSolo Parents and to Allow Senior Citizens to Claim Additional Exemption in Determining Income Tax were made.

In the dispensation of justice, the creation of an Additional Division of the Court of Appeals and Additional Branches of the MTCC and RTC in Baguio City, the institutionalization of a Criminal Investigation System, and the enactment of the Philippine Code of Crimesare needed.

In the case ofrevenue generation, amendments to Section 13 of RA No. 7166, Section 150 of RA No. 7160, and Section 35 of RA No. 8424 were proposed. Included isproposedHouse Resolution No. 00158 calling for an inquiry in aid of legislation to enable the City of Baguio to collect its share from the rentals of Camp John Hay.More importantly, his co-authorship of the Freedom of Information Bill was made primarily in the interest of transparency and accountability.

As of this date, his legislative measures are the following:

House measures sponsored, authored (9)

1. Hb01644 

An act creating an additional division in the court of appeals for cases coming from the first judicial region, increasing the number of court of appeals justices from sixty-nine (69) to seventy-two (72), amending for the purpose bataspambansablg. 129, as amended, otherwise known as the judiciary reorganization act of 1980, appropriating funds therefor, and for other purposes

Status: pending with the committee on justice since 2013-07-31

2. Hb01645 

An act establishing a national technical vocational high school in baguio city to be known as the irisan national technical vocational high school by converting the irisan national high school for the purpose and appropriating funds therefor

Status: pending with the committee on basic education and culture since 2013-07-31

3. Hb01990 

An act establishing a city public college in the city of baguio to be known as the pamantasan ng lungsod ng baguio and appropriating funds therefor

Status: pending with the committee on higher and technical education since 2013-08-05

4. Hb02260 

An act creating two (2) additional branches of the municipal trial court in cities and two (2) additional branches of the regional trial court in the first judicial region to be stationed at the city of baguio, further amending for the purpose bataspambansablg. 129, as amended, otherwise known as 'the judiciary reorganization act of 1980', and appropriating funds therefor

Status: pending with the committee on justice since 2013-08-12

5. Hb02362 

An act amending section 13 of republic act no. 7166 by increasing the authorized expenses of candidates and political parties during the campaign period

Status: pending with the committee on suffrage and electoral reforms since 2013-08-27

6. Hb02848 

An act prescribing the printing of textual health warnings on tobacco products

Status: pending with the committee on health since 2013-09-17

7. Hb02952 

An act amending section 150 of republic act no. 7160, otherwise known as the 'local government code of 1991'

Status: pending with the committee on local government since 2013-09-26

8. Hb02953 

An act further amending section 35 of republic act no. 8424, as amended, otherwise known as the national internal revenue code, to allow senior citizens to claim additional exemption in determining income tax

Status: pending with the committee on ways and means since 2013-09-26

9. Hr00158 

A resolution directing the house of representatives special committee on bases conversion to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the dispute between the bases conversion and development authority (bcda) and the camp john hay development corporation (cjhdevco)

Status: pending with the committee on rules since 2013-08-12

House measures co-authored (7)

1. Hb00094 

An act implementing the right of the people to information on matters of public concern guaranteed under section seven, article three of the 1987 constitution and the state policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest under section twenty-eight, article two of the 1987 constitution, and for other purposes

Status: pending with the committee on public information since 2013-07-23

2. Hb00596 

An act granting additional benefits to solo parents amending for the purpose republic act no. 8972, otherwise known as the "solo parents welfare act of 2000"

Status: pending with the committee on revision of laws since 2013-07-24

3. Hb02032 

An act institutionalizing a criminal investigation system, repealing for the purpose republic act no. 5180, otherwise known as 'an act prescribing a uniform system of preliminary investigation by provincial and city fiscals and their assistants, and by state attorneys or their assistants', and other related laws and issuances

Status: pending with the committee on justice since 2013-08-06

4. Hb02300 

An act instituting the Philippine code of crimes to further strengthen the criminal justice system, repealing for the purpose book one of act no. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the revised penal code of the philippines and other special laws on crimes

Status: pending with the committee on justice since 2013-08-13

5. Hb00955

An act to establish an infant mortality program to reduce the rate of infant mortality in the country providing funds therefor and for other purposes

Status: pending with the committee on health since 2013-07-24

6. Hb no. 2481

An act to ensure every pregnant woman’s access to a skilled birth attendant at the time of childbirth and immediately thereafter

Status: pending with the committee on health since 2013-08-28

7. Hb no. 2464

An act requiring the inclusion of basic financial management and enterpreneurship as separate subjects in the elementary and high school curricula, respectively

Status: pending with the committee on basic education and culture since 2013-08-28

In addition to his legislative duties, your representative continues to perform constituency work. He maintains a District Office at the 2nd floor of the Baguio City Hall where he attends to the needs of the constituents in Baguio City during weekends and whenever Congress is on recess.

He as well established the Congressman’s social responsibility foundation which is now duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The foundation will cater to the needs of constituents that cannot be accommodated in the regular course of your Representative’s official functions. The foundation will operate independently but will be guided by the same principle of transparency and accountability.

Your representative ends this report with a renewed commitment to live up to the trust and confidence you have reposed in him.

With much gratitude in the interest of public service,

REP. NICASIO M. ALIPING, JR.