32 More Solons in the Lower House.... Bad or Good?
By eichs1
@eichs1 (1934)
Philippines
April 23, 2009 2:06pm CST
It's final. Additional party list representatives will be proclaimed this Friday, April 24.
See the news here: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/topstories/topstories/view/20090423-201036/Comelec-to-proclaim-party-list-reps-Friday
Some think this is a good move. More neglected sectors of our society will finally have their voice in the Congress. Other groups were lucky to be sending one more to boost the number of representatives they have now in the House. Others are even considering this as blessing in disguise since those who are proposing for Charter Change will have to court more lawmakers to be able to convert the legislative body into a Constituent Assembly.
But there are those who are totally disagreeing with this move. They say this as additional waste of tax payers money. More lawmakers means more pork (according to Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay) and more government expenses. And worst, many have their stomach churning when they learned that PGMA's sister-in-law and one of her known ally, the controversial retired Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan.
What do you think guys? Will having more Congressman improve the situation of our country?
1 person likes this
7 responses
@jayrene (2708)
• Philippines
24 Apr 09
32 more people going in for that pork barrel...
our government is hopeless... and who's to blame, the people who voted for the present administration... sometimes i dont watch news anymore especially when its all about those corrupt family, imagine they are living in luxury from all the money they have taken from corruption while so many of our countrymen dont have decent food to eat on their table.
why did they add 32 more people in the lower house? well probably they have some hidden motives, let's just wait and see next year, GMA will still be sitting in her so called throne, and her "galamays" getting richer and richer.
they can't even fix the problems now, why add more? the better solution is to change those that are already sitting there doing nothing or are just there for their own selfish motives. imagine tax payers money are used for their salary and they havent done anything to lift up the standard of living of the people.
why is it so hard for the government to persecute corrupt officials? now there's be 32 more added. i wonder how many of those added will be corrupt too...
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
24 Apr 09
I do have some doubts as to what is the real reasoning behind adding new Party List Congressmen to the congress. I guess this is a move to have more party allies inside the house to go with their plan to amend the constitution of course. This would mean that more pro Admin Congressmen would be allowed to work with them. Making their hidden agenda come out more openly to be able to move swiftly because they have the numbers.
1 person likes this
@eichs1 (1934)
• Philippines
24 Apr 09
That's probably true. News revealed that 11 of the 32 party-list representatives were invited (I'm not sure if the others were invited but declined to attend) by House Speaker Nograles even if they were not sworn in yet. The House Speaker was even shown soliciting these new members of the house to join the majority.
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
24 Apr 09
For me, having additional representatives will only add to the people's burden. Why not abolish the congress, the lower house, and have only one house of law-makers. That would probably lessen the government's expenses on their salary. The money that will be saved with the lesser number of law-makers can be used with more important needs of the people. Further, we have lots of laws already, we only have to amended most of them, to be able to put more teeth to those laws... (Sa ganang akin lamang po...)
1 person likes this
@eichs1 (1934)
• Philippines
24 Apr 09
And in my own opinion too, you are right. 
We have too many lawmakers and lots of them don't even know how to make or even just to amend a law. Some don't even care what laws are being passed. They only follow what their party tells them or where they can get more financial benefits.
Too much laws too in our country. But many are never implemented properly. Some don't have even proper implementing rules and regulations. What's the use of creating more laws? And why do we need too much representatives to craft laws?
We have too many lawmakers and lots of them don't even know how to make or even just to amend a law. Some don't even care what laws are being passed. They only follow what their party tells them or where they can get more financial benefits.
Too much laws too in our country. But many are never implemented properly. Some don't have even proper implementing rules and regulations. What's the use of creating more laws? And why do we need too much representatives to craft laws?
@jlamela (4897)
• Philippines
24 Apr 09
Very, very bad!additional congressmen?what they will gonna do in the House of Congress, another barking, shouting and fighting with each other?This is another headache of the Filipino people because the nation's budget will be sacrifice once again in such useless people.
1 person likes this
@eichs1 (1934)
• Philippines
24 Apr 09
That's true. Additional budget for the Filipinos to bear. Another tax getting wasted. A hard-earned money by ordinary tax-payers going to the pockets of thick-faced politicians. I am now beginning to wonder when will this cycle end. When will we have some genuine public service in the country?
@eichs1 (1934)
• Philippines
24 Apr 09
That is right. This are party list representatives and some of those parties are indeed questionable if they are really for the people and not just dummies of politicians to further their interests. Sometimes, even the legitimate parties are there just to have the money and not do nothing about promulgating laws that will benefit the marginalized sector as a whole. In short, they became just like other district representatives making Congress their cash cow.
@zedlav23 (458)
• Philippines
23 Apr 09
I don't think putting in additional representatives can make any change in the rotten system of government we have. It's just another set of expenses for Juan dela Cruz which is uncalled for in this ailing economic times. As long as the implementing agencies don't their job, the laws will just be written documents without power.
@eichs1 (1934)
• Philippines
24 Apr 09
Maybe the new congressmen/women can make an impact if, once and for all, they will think not just for themselves or for their group but for the general good of the country. That they should stop party loyalty and will just act as the lawmakers for the Philippines.
The budget impact of having more congressmen/women is another thing. How much does an office of a congressman needs in a year? And how about the pork barrel fund? Such a huge budget really.
