Three of Laguna's seven representatives to Congress – 1st District Representative Ann Matibag, Calamba City Representative Charisse Ann "Cha" Hernandez-Alcantara, and 3rd District Representative Loreto "Amben" Amante – may be on their first terms at the House of Representatives.
But to describe them as "baguhan" may be something of a misnomer.
Barely a month after the 19th Congress started its work, some of these neophyte solons have immediately thrown themselves to work, filing legislature that will benefit not only their own constituents but their country as well.
Lot to expect
Of the three neophyte solons from Laguna province, Matibag and Hernandez both had received high support – and high expectations – from their constituents.
Matibag, a former board member of Laguna’s 1st district, had made history as the first female congresswoman of the de facto district of San Pedro City.
It should be noted that although Laguna’s 1st legislative district now consists solely of San Pedro City after the cities of Biñan and Sta. Rosa gained their own seats in Congress, it is still legally termed as the 1st District.
Matibag, however, has filed House Bill No. 1484 which seeks to amend the legislative districts of Laguna in order for San Pedro to become a lone district in its own right.
Hernandez, on the other hand, is part of the team of incumbent Mayor Roseller "Ross" Rizal, which single-handedly ended the tight grip of the Chipeco family in Calamba City’s local politics in the May 9 elections.
Prodigious output
And yet records so far show that both Matibag and Hernandez have immediately started on their main job as legislators: filing legislative measures.
A quick check at the House of Representatives' database showed that as of August 5, Matibag has already filed 18 measures, while Hernandez has 11 "principally-authored" measures. Amante, on the other hand, has filed three measures at the House of Representatives as of that date.
Most of these bills, noticeably, are of a “national” scope, meaning that their passage will benefit not only the solons’ own constituencies but the country at large as well.
Creation of national agencies
At least two measures filed by Matibag, for instance, aims to address the need for specialized agencies that will handle the country's response in crisis situations such as disasters and epidemics.
House Bill No. 158 seeks to create a Department of Disaster Resilience, which will "initiate and integrate the implementation of comprehensive, continuous, and strategic plans, programs and projects" aimed at reducing the risk of disasters and the harmful effects of climate change in the Philippines.
House Bill No. 159, on the other hand, seeks to create a Philippine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, modeled after the United States' Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which will become the country's leading institution for public health.
The proposed Philippine CDC will also spearhead research, disease surveillance, and response systems and will become the "focal point" for the implementation at the local level of national and international health regulations during an outbreak of a serious disease.
These two bills, Matibag recently reported, have been passed on first reading at the House of Representatives.
Women and children also priorities
Also on the scopes of the two solons are several measures that seeks to advance the cause of women, children, and health – three of their most prominent advocacies.
Matibag, for instance, has filed House Bill No. 1483, which seeks to exempt medicines for mental health conditions from value added taxes (VAT); House Bill No. 1487, which aims to create a dental health rural unit in all rural health units (RHU) in the Philippines; and House Bill No. 2222, which will prohibit the sale of "unhealthy foods" within 100 meters of public and private schools.
Measures filed by Hernandez, on the other hand, include House Bill No. 2361, which will expand the coverage of the Philippines' Mandatory basic immunization program; House Bill No. 2362, which seeks a greater scope and stiffer penalties against child pornography and online sexual abuse; and House Bill No. 2364, which will institutionalize breast milk banks in the Philippines.
These sectors are also the priority on three of Amante's three filed measures, which includes House Bill No. 300, which seeks to amend the Centenarians' Act of 2016; House Bill No. 2049, which aims to establish centers for "individuals with special needs," and House Bill No. 2050, which aims to strengthen the current barangay nutrition program.
Local bills
This does not mean, however, that Matibag and Hernandez have both neglected to champion the welfare of their local constituents in the cities of San Pedro and Calamba.
Aside from the aforementioned bill seeking to amend the current legislative makeup of Laguna (which also includes increasing the number of elected councilors in San Pedro City from the current ten to 12 councilors), Matibag has also filed measures seeking to increase the current capacity of the San Pedro District Hospital from as well as renaming (and expanding) the San Pedro Technical Institute (SPTI) into the San Pedro State College.
Hernandez, meanwhile, has filed measures seeking to create the Calamba City Medical Center, as well as the establishment of a Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) branch in Calamba City and the establishment of the Calamba City Technical Skills and Development Administration (TESDA) Training Assessment Center.
Giving dignity to solons' roles
In recent years, congressmen have been stereotyped not only as corrupt “trapos” (traditional politicians) but also as "milking cows" whom their constituents can ask for money, especially in the heyday of the so-called "pork barrel."
This, unfortunately, not only overshadows but negates the real reason we elect these legislators: to create laws that will guide our country towards fulfilling its goals of sustainable development.
“Neophytes” as they were, these three representatives from Laguna province may prove that in spite of all the drama and politicking that had marked our Congress, it is still fulfilling its main role of being the country’s “lawmaker.”