Jojo M.

Lucion II-BSED 15th Congress House of Representatives Congress of the Philippines

FIELD TRIP

Last September 17, 2012, as part of our Philippine History and Economics, we visited the House of Representatives in Batasan Hills, Quezon City as our mini fieldtrip. We visited the Congress to know how the Congressman and Congresswomen make Bills and become a Law later on. We were very lucky at that time because the session was a very important matter, they were deliberating about the budgets for their projects on their respective districts as well as programs for the betterment of the people. They need to finish the budget hearing before the sessions closed. Its quite crucial on the part of congressman or congresswoman to defend their budget over the interpolation wherein the other Representatives could ask questions and justify the budget they are proposing. Tensions are really there because its their nature of work. However, some Representatives were very busy roaming around during sessions, is that really part of politics? I also learned that Congressmen and Congresswomen make Bills to become a law for the National Welfare or just a bill for their respective Districts. Do you know what really caught my attention during the sessions? Well, the Seal of Representative being put on and off during the sessions. Its the MACE, a symbol of authority of the House; it is displayed at the Speakers rostrum when the House is in session and it serves as the warrant of the Sergeant-at-Arms in enforcing orders of the House. It is very important before the sessions begin. When its ON all the conversations/arguments are Valid

or recorded in minutes. Without it, any conversations/arguments considered void/null. By the way, How a Bill becomes a Law? The process takes long. Its really crucial/rigid process. I just remember it has 8 processes. Let me summarize those. 1. A bill must relate to only one subject matter which must be expressed in its title. 2. A Committee only prepares a report on a bill it decides to recommend for approval by the House. 3. A bill must undergo 3 readings on 3 separate days except when the President certifies a bill as urgent to meet a public calamity or national emergency. 4. If a house has a counterpart bill to a bill passed by the other house, and these bills have conflicting provisions, a conference committee composed of representatives of each house is formed to harmonize the conflicting provisions. Thereafter, if the conflicting provisions are harmonized, a conference committee report is prepared for ratification or approval by both houses. Woof!!! Its really rigid to pass a Bill. However, as a citizen, we can contact our Representatives if have suggestions for new laws needed to make our lives and our society better. I believe we are very welcome for that. Thats it for now about the Bills and Laws. We also visited the archive and watch a short documentary about the history of the Congress as well as the Constitutions from the start for us learners to know. Its quite interested during Questions and Answers to get freebies of course. Hahaha..I got a shirt thanks for the effort! The whole trip was a success and indeed, it was very enjoying. We were not only able to learn and apply what weve learn in our classroom, but we were also able to bond with our classmates. The trip was very educational though there were some parts of the trip that we find very boring at least we were able to see how they produce their products.