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WHEN rookie Congresswoman Nikki Prieto-Teodoro sets her mind on
achieving something she won’t give in until she reaches her
goal—especially when it concerns matters that are dear to her
legislative agenda.
So the House of Representatives decision to
amend its rules in order to make the Special Committee on the
Welfare of Children and Special Persons a standing committee is a
sweet moment of triumph for her. Furthermore, the committee’s
jurisdiction was also amended with focus on all matters directly and
principally relating to the needs, education and over-all welfare of
the Filipino child who represents the future of the nation.
Rep. Prieto-Teodoro, chairperson of the said
committee, was understandably jubilant with the changes that
happened. She enthused: “This is a perfect manifestation of the
House of Representatives’ deep concern on the welfare of our
children. I am very pleased that we finally recognized the need to
create a standing committee in the House of Representatives that
will act on all issues concerning Filipino children and will
expedite the passage of laws for their wellbeing.”
Based on the rules of the House, special
committees are intended to address measures relating to special or
urgent needs, concerns, issues and interests of certain sectors or
constituencies requiring immediate legislative action.
Standing committees on the other hand are
permanent committees which have jurisdiction over measures relating
to the needs, concerns, issues and interests requiring continuing or
comprehensive legislative study, attention and action.
Rep. Prieto-Teodoro believes that taking care of
our children should be a permanent advocacy of the House of
Representatives. She added: “With the success of the concerted
efforts of many legislators and different child rights networks, we
now have the all-important legislative framework in place to serve
as the vanguard of our children’s rights.”
While she was at it, she also expressed
gratitude to the fledgling leadership of Speaker Prospero Nograles
who hit the ground running on the issue and, according to petite
lawmaker, “did not turn blind eye to this concern.”
Making the children’s committee a standing
committee was also supported by Rep. Roilo Golez and Neptali
Gonzales, and became possible through the technical assistance of
the Committee on Rules.
It is worth noting that it is only during the
present Congress— and through the effort driven by Rep.
Prieto-Teodoro—that a Committee on Children’s Welfare was
created. This is indeed a victory for her and her fellow child
welfare advocates.
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The fervent debate in the Senate involving
Senate President Manny Villar and Senator Mar Roxas over whether or
not to except the Supreme Court’s compromise agreement that would
pave the way for former National Economic Development Agency head
Romulo Neri to make another appearance at the Senate inquiry on the
highly polemic National Broadband Network contract (aka ZTE) that is
still going on (and on and on . . . zzzz) has entered the realms of
the dinner table circuit.
To recap, Villar has rejected it on the basis
that its very acceptance would in effect compromise the
independence, and integrity, of the Senate. However Roxas
believes that going along with the High Court proposal was the only
way to break the Neri deadlock.
So when the matter of the compromise agreement
came up at a high society wedding over the weekend former President
Joseph Estrada showed that he has not lost his famous knack of
saying it as it is.
Asked whether Villar or Roxas was right on the
compromise formula of the Supremes he came down firmly on the side
of Villar, adding for good measure: “Compromise is for barangay
captains!”
Interestingly, when that interlude came up at
the dinner table Senate President Villar, who had also been present
at the wedding as a principal sponsor, had left.
rjottings@yahoo.com
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