No Work, No Pay
10 June 2005 - In case you are wondering why legislation takes so long, wonder no more. The nation’s legislators – at least some of them – are either chronically late to or absent from work. The situation has gotten so bad that it has actually sparked off discussion in the House of Representatives of a “no work, no pay” policy on Congressmen. Not surprisingly, the proposal didn’t prosper.
At an all-party caucus presided over by Speaker Jose C. de Venecia on 6 June, House leaders rejected the proposed “no work, no pay” policy. Instead, the names of absentee lawmakers will be published on a monthly basis starting July.
The debate was started by Reps. Lorenzo R. Tañada III (4th, Quezon) and Manuel N. Mamba (3rd, Cagayan), both from the Liberal Party, who proposed the “no work, no pay” policy to address the frequent lack of quorum during sessions.
Since Congress resumed sessions on 11 April after the Easter break, the 236-member House has had a quorum only when it voted on the expanded VAT bill. Quorum is set at 119 members*. Rep. Tañada says the average attendance of late has been around 80 to 90.
The chronic situation has delayed the discussion of vital bills such as the anti-smuggling bill. Other important measures slated for discussion are the proposed extension of the Special Purpose Assets Vehicle Act and the proposal allowing the Office of the Ombudsman to tap the services of private lawyers to help prosecute cases.
Rep. Mamba points out that ordinary workers, whether in the private or public sector, are penalized with salary deductions for absences and that therefore the same rules should apply to the lawmakers.
However, participants in the caucus held on 6 June voted down the proposal. Instead, the group authorized the Speaker to instruct the House Secretary General to publish monthly in a newspaper of nationwide circulation the names of absentee solons.
Senate Attendance Record | House Attendance Record
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