Mga Panukalang Batas at Resolusyon ng Kamara

Mga Panukalang Batas at Resolusyon ng Kamara

Mga kababayan, ang mga teksto ng mga House Bills, House Resolutions, at Committee Reports mula pa noong Ika-13 Kongreso (2004–2007) hanggang sa kasalukuyang Kongreso ay maaaring ma-access online sa pamamagitan ng seksyong “Legislative Documents” ng opisyal na website ng House of Representatives.

Maaaring hanapin ang mga panukalang may buong teksto gamit ang bill number o mga salitang may kaugnayan sa pamagat. Ang lahat ng bersyon ay itinuturing na As Filed — maliban na lamang kung may partikular na indikasyon sa dokumento na ito ay naamyendahan o napalitan.

Para naman sa nangangailangan ng kopyang naka-print, ang mga dokumento ng kasalukuyang Kongreso ay matatagpuan sa Bills and Index Division na nasa SW-Basement ng Batasan Complex. Samantalang ang mga dokumento mula sa mga nakaraang Kongreso ay matatagpuan naman sa Legislative Library and Archives Museum, dito rin sa Batasan Complex.

Tungkol sa Authorship o mga May-akda

Makikita rin sa bawat Web page ng isang Kinatawan ang talaan ng mga panukalang batas at resolusyong kanilang inakda o co-authored — isang paraan upang malaman natin kung anu-ano ang mga isinusulong nilang panukala para sa bayan.

Committee Referrals o Pagpapasa sa mga Komite

Makikita rin sa bawat pahina ng mga komite sa website ng Kamara ang listahan ng mga panukala at resolusyong ipinasa sa kanila para sa pag-aaral at pagtalakay. Makatutulong ito sa mga nais sumubaybay sa mga committee hearings o proceedings.

LEGIS o Legislative Information System

Ang LEGIS ay isang makabago at search-based na sistema na nagbibigay-daan sa publiko upang magsaliksik, mag-download, o mag-save ng detalyadong impormasyon tungkol sa mga panukalang batas at resolusyon — kabilang na rito ang buong teksto, ang status o kasalukuyang kalagayan nito, ang mga may-akda, ang mga komiteng pinagsumitehan, at ang uri ng panukala — simula pa sa Ika-8 Kongreso hanggang sa kasalukuyang Ika-18 Kongreso.

ANG KONGRESO — BATASANG PAMBANSA NG PILIPINAS

Isinalin at isinapilipino ni: Terence Mordeno Grana

Mga kababayan, ang mga batas na pinaiiral sa ating bansa ay ginagawa ng mga mambabatas na bumubuo sa tinatawag nating Kongreso ng Pilipinas, o mas kilala bilang Lehislatura. Ang Kongreso ay binubuo ng dalawang sangay o kapulungan — ang Mababang Kapulungan (House of Representatives) at ang Mataas na Kapulungan (Senado).

Ang mga kasapi sa Mababang Kapulungan ay tinatawag na Kinatawan o Kongresista — maaaring lalaki o babae. Sila’y hinihalal ng taumbayan tuwing eleksyon at may tatlong taong termino sa panunungkulan. Maari lamang silang magsilbi nang sunud-sunod hanggang tatlong termino o siyam na taon.

Sa buong bansa, may 243 distrito na bawat isa ay may sarili’t natatanging kinatawan. Sa bawat distrito, may humigit-kumulang 250,000 katao ang naninirahan, at isa sa kanila ay maaaring maging inyong halal na kinatawan sa Kongreso. Bukod dito, may mga party-list representatives din na kumakatawan sa mga sektor ng lipunan — at sila’y hindi dapat lumagpas sa 20% ng kabuuang bilang ng mga Kinatawan.

Sa kabilang banda, ang mga mambabatas sa Senado ay tinatawag na Senador. Sila’y inihalal ng buong bansa (hindi lang ng isang distrito), at may anim na taong termino sa panunungkulan. Katulad ng mga Kinatawan, limitado rin ang kanilang panunungkulan — dalawang magkasunod na termino lamang o labindalawang taon ang pinakamahaba. Sa kasalukuyan, may 24 na Senador sa buong bansa.

Kung nais mong maging Kinatawan, dapat ikaw ay:

• Isinilang na Pilipino (natural-born),

• Rehistradong botante ng distrito kung saan ka tatakbo,

• Nanirahan sa naturang distrito ng di bababa sa isang taon bago ang araw ng halalan,

• At hindi bababa sa 25 taong gulang.

Para naman sa pagka-Senador:

• Dapat ay isinilang na Pilipino,

• Botante at residente ng Pilipinas nang hindi bababa sa dalawang taon bago ang eleksyon,

• At 35 taong gulang pataas.

Batay sa ating Saligang Batas, ang Kongreso ay regular na nagbubukas ng sesyon tuwing ika-apat na Lunes ng Hulyo bawat taon. Ang isang regular na sesyon ay maaaring tumagal hanggang tatlumpung araw bago muling magbukas ang susunod na regular session sa sumunod na taon.

Ngunit sa mga pagkakataong may kagyat o pambihirang pangyayari, maaaring magpatawag ng espesyal na sesyon ang Pangulo ng Pilipinas upang agad na talakayin ng Kongreso ang mga usaping nangangailangan ng agarang aksyon.

MARAMI TAYONG MATUTUTUNAN SA ELEKSYON SA INDONESIA – 06.18.1999

MARAMI TAYONG MATUTUTUNAN SA ELEKSYON SA INDONESIA – 06.18.1999

ni: Terence Mordeno Grana

(Noong panahong iyon, Chief ako ng Indexing and Monitoring Group, Bills and Index Service, House of Representatives Secretariat, Constitution Hills, Quezon City.)

Sa paanyaya ni Pangulong B.J. Habibie ng Indonesia, nagpadala ang pamahalaan ng Pilipinas ng isang delegasyong binubuo ng 108 volunteers mula sa National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), sa pangunguna ni Chairman Jose Concepcion bilang mission chief at Gen. Thelmo Cunanan bilang deputy chief of mission, upang magsilbing international observers sa kanilang halalan noong ika-7 ng Hunyo, 1999.

Mapalad ako’t napabilang sa delegasyong iyon — saksi sa kauna-unahang malayang halalan ng mga Indonesian matapos ang 44 na taong pagkakaantala ng tunay na demokratikong eleksyon.

Pagdating namin sa Jakarta noong ika-3 ng Hunyo, habang papunta pa lang kami sa hotel mula sa Sukarno-Hatta International Airport, bumungad na agad sa amin ang dagsa ng mga taong nakapula, nagra-rally sa kalsada — mula bata hanggang matanda. Iyon pala ang araw ng kampanya ng PDI-Perjuangan, partido ni Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Ramdam na ramdam mo ang diwa ng kanilang pagkakaisa — parang EDSA People Power ang vibes, may sayawan, may awitan ng kanilang himno ng buong sigasig — pero disiplinado. Kinabukasan, ang Golkar naman (ang partido ng administrasyon) ang may rally, pero hindi kasing-ingay o kasing-kulay ng PDI.

Ang kapansin-pansin sa kanila: matapos ang kampanya, parang walang nangyaring rally — malinis ang lansangan, walang kalat, walang posters sa pader o tulay. Sinikap nilang linisin agad ang mga ito bago pa man sumapit ang takdang oras ng pagtatapos ng kampanya. Yan ang dapat tularan ng atin.

Dalawang araw bago ang botohan, na-deploy na kami sa kanya-kanyang assignment. Napabilang ako sa 23 na ipinadala sa East Java. Mula Jakarta, sumakay kami ng domestic flight na tumagal ng isa’t kalahating oras papuntang Surabaya, ang kabisera ng probinsya. Apat kami — isang pari, isang dean ng unibersidad, isang negosyante, at ako — na naitalaga sa lungsod ng Jember, na apat na oras ang biyahe sa lupa mula Surabaya. Doon, inatasan akong i-monitor ang 12 kecamatan (parang bayan sa atin).

Kasama ko sa team ang isang Indonesian driver, isang interpreter, at isang election monitoring officer mula sa Forum Rektor — katumbas ng NAMFREL sa kanila. Binigyan kami ng high-tech na handheld communication gadget para sa regular naming pag-uulat.

Ipinakilala kami sa hepe ng pulisya sa Jember. Maayos ang pagtanggap sa amin at agad na nag-alok ng dalawang police escort bawat isa, pero magalang naming tinanggihan — kanya-kanya kaming dahilan.

Sa araw ng botohan, nasa kampo lang ang military, habang ang mga pulis ay tahimik na nakaantabay sa mga presinto para mapanatili ang kaayusan.

Maayos ang naging daloy ng botohan — eksaktong alas-siete nagsimula, hindi 6:59, hindi 7:01. Nagbukas ang proseso sa pamamagitan ng 45 minutong panalangin ng KPPS (katumbas ng BEI sa atin), humihiling sa tulong ng Allah para sa mapayapang halalan, kasunod ang panunumpa ng KPPS at ng mga kinatawan ng mga partido na tinatawag nilang “saksi”.

Sa bawat pagkakataon, tig-25 lang ang pinapayagang pumasok sa loob ng TPS (polling station), habang ang iba’y nakapila sa labas, tinatawag isa-isa gamit ang bullhorn. Bago makaboto, kailangang tiyakin ng botante na nasa listahan ang kanyang pangalan na naka-post sa labas ng TPS.

Sa pagboto, pipili ang botante ng simbolo ng partido sa balota gamit ang anim na pulgadang pako. Pagkatapos, isinasawsaw ang daliri sa bote ng indelible ink — hindi lang tinutuluan sa kuko tulad sa atin. Sila mismo ang umamin na ang ideyang ito ay hiniram nila sa atin.

Sa bilangan naman, bandang alas-dos ng hapon, binabasa at ipinapakita ng KPPS ang boto sa bawat balota sa mga saksi, na siyang nagtatala ng mga boto. Pitong saksi ang lumalagda sa dokumentong naglalaman ng opisyal na bilang ng boto.

Ang balota nila, kahoy lang — simpleng plywood — pero malaki, kaya hindi basta basta mananakaw. Sa atin, metal, pero kung saan-saan napupunta.

At eto pa — sa lahat ng international observers na naroon, gaya ng mga Amerikano, Australiano, Europeo, at Hapones — masasabi kong kami lang, kaming mga Filipino mula sa NAMFREL, ang tunay na tinanggap nang may init at sinseridad ng mga Indonesian. Doon pa lang, panalo na tayo.

—

WE HA LOT TO LEARN FROM THE INDONESIAN ELECTIONS - 06.18.1999

WE HAVE A LOT TO LEARN FROM THE INDONESIAN ELECTIONS - 06.18.1999

by: Terence Mordeno Grana *

UPON invitation of Indonesian President B.J. Habibie, the Philippine government sent a 108-member delegation composed of National Citizens’ Movement for Free Election (NAMFREL) voluteers, headed by mission chief Chairman Jose Concepcion and deputy chief of mission Gen. Thelmo Cunanan, to observe the general elections held on June 7, 1999.

This writer was lucky to be among the volunteers sent to cover the first ever free electoral exercise of the Indonesians after 44 years since their last democratic elections were conducted.

At our arrival on June 3, while enroute to our hotel from the Sukarno-Hatta International airport in Jakarta, we already witnessed the throng of red-clad rallyists almost from all ages swarming the city streets. Eventually, we learned that it was the designated day for the PDI-Perjuangan (the party of Megawati Sukarnoputri) to hold its party rally prior to the voting day.

We saw party loyalists dancing on the streets and chanting their party hymn with gusto, a la EDSA people power revolution, demonstrating their full support to the party cause, but with discipline.

Consequently, Golkar (the administration party) held also their rally the next day, but it was not as festive as the PDI’s. Take note that that day, Friday, was the last day of the campaign period.

The good thing about their political campaigns is that, immediately after the campaign period ended, you can see no trace of any garbage on the streets and campaign posters pasted anymore on the walls, streets and bridges because party members immediately cleaned-up before the campaign period expired - this is one lesson that we Filipinos have to learn from the Indonesians.

Two days prior to the elections, we were deployed to our respective areas of assignment and I was among the 23 sent to East Java. We took the one-hour-and-a-half domestic flight from Jakarta to Surabaya, the capital city of the province. Four of us, a priest, a university dean, a businessman and myself, were assigned to a small city called Jember - a four-hour smooth land trip from Surabaya, and I was specifically tasked to cover 12 kecamatans (their version of towns).

With me in a team was an Indonesian driver, an interpreter and an election monitoring officer (EMO) from Forum Rektor, their local counterpart of our NAMFREL. I was issued a sophisticated communications equipment, a hi-tech handy phone to be used for my periodic reporting.

We were introduced to the city chief of police of Jember who was very accommodating and quick in offering us 2 personal police security each but we politely refused for our own individual reasons.

During the voting day, the military personnel were confined in their barracks but there were police present in the polling places to maintain peace and order in the areas.

I can say that the conduct of their elections was orderly because the proceedings really promptly started at seven o’clock in the morning of June 7, not 6:59 nor 7:01, and it all commenced with 45 minutes of prayer by the KPPS (their counterpart of our board of election inspectors (BEI’s)), asking Allah to intercede for the peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections, and the oath-taking of the KPPS and the party representatives which they call “saksi”.

At a given time, only 25 qualified voters were allowed inside the polling place to wait for the turn to cast their votes, which will be “replinished” at a time, and their names were called through a bullhorn. Before a voter could be allowed inside, he or she has to make certain that his/her name is in the list which was posted outside the TPS (polling place).

After a voter has already completed to cast his/her vote by punching the symbol of the party of his/her choice on the ballot with a six-inch nail, application of the indelible ink is now done by dipping his/her finger into the bottle of the ink, not just applied only on the nail cuticles. By the way, the Indonesians acknowledged that they adopted the idea of using the indelible ink from the Filipinos.

During the counting of votes at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, the KPPS read and showed to the saksi the vote on the ballot and in turn, the saksi record each figure. Seven members of the saksi signed the document recording the results of the election.

Come to think of it, our ballot boxes are made of metal material while theirs is just made of ordinary plywood but it could not be snatched because its size is very big.

Of the International observers like Americans, Australians, Europeans and Japanese, I could say that only we, the Filipino NAMFREL International observers were treated warmly and sincerely by the Indonesians than our other International counterparts.
_________________

* Mr. Grana is the Chief, Indexing and Monitoring Group, Bills and Index Service, House of Representatives Secretariat, Constitution Hills, Quezon City

TERENCE MORDENO GRANA

Voice of the Legislature, Champion of the Airwaves

04-20 A. Bonifacio St., New Capitol Estates I, Batasan Hills, Quezon City

Mobile: +63 917 624 6104 | Email: terencegrana@gmail.com

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PROFILE

A seasoned legislative expert and passionate public educator, Terence Mordeno Grana brings over 40 years of experience in the Philippine Legislature to the airwaves. From 1978 to 2018, he served in various technical and supervisory roles in the House of Representatives, culminating as Chief of the Indexing and Monitoring Group. Today, he continues his public service as a volunteer broadcaster on AFP Radio, hosting the informative weekly show Katropa sa Kamara, where he breaks down legislative matters for everyday Filipinos.

Driven by a mission to educate, enlighten, and empower the public—without formal training in media but with unmatched passion—he uses his platform to bridge the gap between Congress and the citizenry. At 72, he remains actively engaged in research, broadcasting, and civic discourse.

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BROADCASTING EXPERIENCE

Host, Katropa sa Kamara

AFP Radio DWDD (1134 kHz AM) | 2018–Present

• Weekly 2-hour program aired every Saturday, 8:00–10:00 AM

• Covers plenary proceedings, committee highlights, and current legislative news

• Delivered in Filipino and English for broader public understanding

• Voluntary, non-compensated public service

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LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE

Chief, Indexing and Monitoring Group

House of Representatives, 2011–2018

• Oversaw tracking of bills, resolutions, and House records

• Led the preparation of legislative indexes and summaries

Technical and Administrative Roles

House of Representatives, 1978–2011

• Held multiple roles in support of legislative research, documentation, and public information

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EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts in English

Southwestern University, Cebu City — 1978

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AFFILIATIONS & PUBLICATIONS

• Member, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP)

• Author, We Have a Lot to Learn from the Indonesian Elections (1999), a reflective piece on electoral observation work under NAMFREL

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Catchphrase:

“From plenary to the people—walang iwanan sa impormasyon!”

Terence Mordeno Grana

Retired House of Representatives officer (1978–2018) | Volunteer broadcaster, Katropa sa Kamara @ AFP Radio | Legislative educator | KBP member | Forever in public service, on-air and beyond. Retired House of Representatives officer (1978–2018) | Volunteer broadcaster, Katropa sa Kamara @ AFP Radio | Legislative educator | KBP member | Forever in public service, on-air and beyond.

(For LinkedIn)

Terence Mordeno Grana

Voice of the Legislature, Champion of the Airwaves

A seasoned legislative expert turned passionate public educator, Terence Mordeno Grana is a retired pillar of the Philippine House of Representatives, having dedicated four decades (1978–2018) to advancing policy and procedure. As Chief of the Indexing and Monitoring Group (2011–2018), he was a compass in the complex terrain of lawmaking.

Post-retirement, his commitment to public service never waned. Now a dynamic volunteer broadcaster on AFP Radio, he helms Katropa sa Kamara, a weekly Saturday morning program that brings the inner workings of Congress straight to the people’s ears—without compensation, but with full devotion. His voice bridges the gap between legislation and the layman, unpacking committee hearings, plenary sessions, and pressing national issues with clarity and candor.

Despite no formal media training, Terence has earned his stripes behind the mic, guided by passion, purpose, and an undimmed thirst for truth. At 72, he remains intellectually agile, endlessly curious, and fiercely committed to educating the Filipino public about governance, democracy, and civic responsibility. A proud member of the KBP, and a published observer of democracy in action—from Manila to Jakarta—Terence Grana is proof that the wisdom of experience, when shared freely, is a powerful force for public good.

Catchphrase:

“From plenary to the people—walang iwanan sa impormasyon!”

My Indonesian Elections Experience Essay Format

We Have a Lot to Learn from the Indonesian Elections

By Terence Mordeno Grana

June 18, 1999 — Observation Mission, Indonesia

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Arrival in Jakarta – A Nation on the Brink of Change

Chapter 3: Clean Campaign Culture – A Lesson in Civic Discipline

Chapter 4: Deployment to East Java – Immersion in Local Democracy

Chapter 5: Election Day – Order, Prayer, and Precision

Chapter 6: The Counting Ritual – Transparency in Every Tally

Chapter 7: A Warm Welcome – How Indonesians Embraced the Filipino Observers

Chapter 8: Reflections – The Value of Participatory Democracy

Chapter 9: The Role of Observers – Guardians of the Electoral Process

Chapter 10: The Indonesian Electoral System – A Study in Simplicity and Efficiency

Chapter 11: Lessons for the Philippines – What We Can Learn from Indonesia

Chapter 12: The Impact of Free Elections on a Nation's Development

Chapter 13: The Role of International Observers – A Vital Check on Fairness

Chapter 14: A Comparison of Campaign Styles – The Influence of Culture and History

Chapter 15: Election Day – A Test of Democracy’s Resilience

Chapter 16: The Vote Count – Transparency in Action

Chapter 17: Lessons in Civic Discipline and Clean Elections

(Chapter content to be added here. Already provided in earlier parts.)

Chapter 18: The Plywood Ballot Box – Simplicity with Integrity

Chapter 19: A Warm Welcome – The Filipino Observer Experience

Chapter 20: Reflections at the Airport – A Farewell Full of Meaning

Chapter 21: What We Bring Home – Lessons for the Philippines

Chapter 22: Building Bridges – Democracy as a Shared Experience

Chapter 23: The Role of Civil Society – Guardians of the Electoral Spirit

Chapter 24: Reflections in the Mirror – Democracy, Discipline, and the Filipino Identity

Chapter 25: A Personal Democracy – Lessons That Transcend Borders