SPEECH DELIVERED BY

SPEAKER FELICIANO BELMONTE JR.

ON THE ADJOURNMENT OF SESSION
(September 26, 2014)
DEAR COLLEAGUES:
THE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS, BOTH IN COMMITTEE AND IN
PLENARY THIS YEAR, HAVE BEEN EXCEEDINGLY SPIRITED
AND INCISIVE.
I WELCOME THE RESURGENCE OF THE LEGISLATIVE WILL
FOR BUDGET OVERSIGHT THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN ACTION
THESE PAST MONTHS. IT IS A SIGN THAT WE ARE
STRENGTHENING OUR INSTITUTIONAL MUSCLE TO MAKE
THIS GOVERNMENT WORK BETTER, AND TO ENSURE THAT
PUBLIC RESOURCES ARE ALLOCATED MORE EFFECTIVELY
FOR THE WELFARE OF OUR PEOPLE.
ALL OF US IN THIS CHAMBER MAY OFTEN DISAGREE ON
ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR NATION, BUT OUR COLLECTIVE
STRENGTH HERE, IN THE 16
TH
CONGRESS, SPRINGS FROM
OUR WILLINGNESS TO SET ASIDE OUR DIFFERENCES, AND
FIND THE AVENUES OF COOPERATION, COMPROMISE AND
CONSENSUS, TO SERVE OUR PEOPLE THE BEST WE CAN AT
ANY PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME.
IT IS MY SINGULAR PRIDE, AS YOUR SPEAKER, TO BE PART
OF THIS COMMUNITY OF LAWMAKERS COMMITTED TO THE
PRIMACY OF THE PEOPLES WELFARE AND THE NATIONS
SURVIVAL. THERE IS SO MUCH MORE WE ARE EXPECTED TO
DO IN THE REMAINING YEARS OF THIS CONGRESS, AND I ASK
THAT WE CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER.
WE HAVE A VERY FULL LEGISLATIVE PLATE IN THE COMING
MONTHS.
THE PROPOSED BANGSAMORO BASIC LAW WILL DEMAND
OUR BEST EFFORTS AND ATTENTION, SO THAT WE CAN
ARRIVE AT AN INFORMED CONSENSUS ON THE
MEASURE, GUIDED BY THE ASPIRATIONS FOR ENDURING
PEACE AND ENSURING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
WITHIN A CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK.
THE AMENDMENTS TO THE ECONOMIC PROVISIONS OF
THE CONSTITUTION, TOGETHER WITH GAME CHANGING
ECONOMIC MEASURES SUCH AS THE PHILIPPINE
COMPETITION ACT THAT SEEKS TO LEVEL THE PLAYING
FIELD FOR INVESTMENTS, AND THE RATIONALIZATION
OF OUR INCOME TAX SYSTEM, AMONG OTHERS, ALSO
NEED TO BE ADDRESSED WITH DISPATCH BEFORE THE
END OF THE SECOND REGULAR SESSION TO ALLOW
TIME FOR SENATE ACTION; AND
OTHER IMPORTANT REFORM MEASURES TARGETTING
THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM, THE POWER INDUSTRY, AND
THE REGULATORY REGIMES ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND
UTILIZATION OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES THAT WE
NEED TO REVIEW AND PRIORITIZE.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT WITH THE GRIT, FORTITUDE AND
UNITY THAT WE HAVE EXHIBITED IN THE PAST FEW DAYS,
MANY OF US SOLDIERING ON TILL MORNING TO FINISH
DELIBERATIONS ON THE BUDGET IN PLENARY, WE SHALL
ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE HAVE SET OUT TO DO.
IN THIS SPIRIT, I CONVEY MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO ALL
OF YOU FOR BRINGING THIS HOUSE TO THIS HOUR OF PRIDE.
WE HAVE, AS ONE BODY, SUFFERED GREATLY IN THE BAR OF
PUBLIC OPINION IN THE PAST MONTHS. BUT WE HAVE SHOWN
TODAY THAT WE ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS FIRST AND LAST.
AND THAT IS WHAT COUNTS.
TO EACH AND EVERY MEMBER OF THIS HOUSE, MY DEEPEST
APPRECIATION.
TO CHAIRPERSON SID UNGAB, THE VICE CHAIRPERSONS AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, I
SALUTE YOU FOR A JOB VERY WELL DONE.
TO THE MAJORITY LEADER, AS ALWAYS, YOU HAVE ONCE
AGAIN STEERED PLENARY DELIBERATIONS MOST
ADMIRABLY, TOGETHER WITH YOUR VERY HARDWORKING
AND GOOD LOOKING DEPUTIES IN THE COMMITTEE ON
RULES.
TO THE DEPUTY SPEAKERS, YOUR PATIENCE AND FORTITUDE
IN STEERING THE PROCEEDINGS IN PLENARY WERE MOST
COMMENDABLE, AND IN MANY INSTANCES, ENLIVENING.
MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYO.
TO THE MINORITY LEADER AND THE MINORITY MEMBERS,
AS WELL AS TO THE INDEPENDENTS YOU HAVE BEEN MOST
INCISIVE AND VIGILANT, ENRICHING THE DELIBERATIONS
WITH INSIGHTS THAT CAN NEVER BE DISCOVERED BY THE
TIMID AND THE TAME. THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH US
IN BUILDING AND STRENGTHENING CONSENSUS AMONG OUR
MEMBERS IN VARIOUS ISSUES.
TO OUR SECRETARIAT, AND TO ALL THE HARDWORKING
MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF, MY COMMENDATIONS FOR NOT
SLEEPING, QUITE LITERALLY, ON THE JOB. YOUR
DEDICATION AND EFFICIENCY TO THIS CHAMBER AND OUR
MEMBERS DESERVES OUR APPRECIATION.
MULI, MARAMING SALAMAT PO SA INYONG LAHAT!
MAY GOD BLESS US ALL!