Philippine Politics and Governance

Module No. 7

James Jay G. Llerin

Module Writer/Translator
Laguindingan National High School (LaNHS-SHS)

1
 What I Need to Know

For the Learners:

Mabuhay Pilipinas! Philippine Politics and Governance

one of the specialized subjects to all learners who commit
themselves the strand of Humanities and Social
Sciences. this subject, we will exploring the different
ideologies the world of Politics and how we come up with
our own Government the present day here Philippines.
We will explore our own country the perspective of our
governing body and to our leaders.

this module, we will broaden our understanding

how Philippine Government works—the hows and whats
content. Further, this module will challenge us to critique,
understand, and evaluate the Government especially the
Legislative Branch.

Module Content:

To ensure the effectivity of the Government and to secure the citizen’s right,
Government is divided into three branches in where each branch has different role and power
possesses. The three branches of Government are (1) Executive, (2) Legislative, and (3)
Judiciary.

Module 7 focuses the second branch of Government which is the Legislative Branch.
In this module, you will be able to:

Differentiate the roles and responsibilities of the Philippine Senate and the House of
Representatives. (HUMSS_PG12-Ii-27

2
 What I Know (Pretest)

This activity will enable you to assess your prior knowledge from the topic that will be
discussed in this lesson.

Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer and write the CAPITAL LETTER
of your answer in the space provided.

___1. What is the branch in the Government that its main function is to craft laws?
A. Executive Branch B. Legislative Branch C. Judicial Branch

___2. In order to create laws, legislative branch comes up with two main documents. What
are these?

A. Resolutions and Bills B. Resolutions and Ordinance C. Bills and Ordinance

___3. According to the 1987 Philippine Constitution, legislative power shall be vested in the
Congress of the Philippines, which shall consist of what?

A. President and Chief Justice

B. Senate and House of Representative
C. Chief of Justice and House of Representative

___4. What is the last step in making a law under the Legislative Process?
A. Third Reading
B. Submission to Joint Bicameral Committee
C. Submission to the President

___5. After how many days the act shall take effect after the publication in the official
gazette of the Philippine Government?

A. 10 days B. 15 days C. 30 days

3
 MODULE 7
Learning Differentiate the roles and responsibilities of the
Competency Philippine Senate and the House of
Representatives. (HUMSS_PG12-Ii-27)

What I need to know:

At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:

 Identify the real life application of roles and responsibilities exercised by the Philippine Senate and
the House of Representatives.
 Realize the importance of law making through evaluating a bill passed by the Senate or House of
Representative.
 Create a proposal bill using the prescribed format in the Philippine Congress.

What’s New:

Activity 1 Photo Analysis

Direction: Give a short description of the photo and write the possible cause why the scenario shown in
the photo happened.

1. Traffic Jam
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

Photo Source https://www.history.com/news/these-photos-of-historys-worst-traffic-jams-will

give-you-road-rage

4
2. Classroom

____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

Photo Source: https://hdclipartall.com/classroom-clipart-clip-art-classroom-clipart-1200_849-004413.html

Guide Questions:
1. How do you find the activity?
2. Why is the law important?
3. What would a society look like without a law?

What Is It

Imagine a society without law? What will happen to its citizen if everyone is entitled with their
own freedom without respecting other’s freedom? Imagine a society in where stealing, over
speeding or worse, killing is okay? Do you think your life will be safe? Do you think, you want to live
in this kind of society?

In order to maintain an harmonious living, one of the branches in the Philippine Government
which is the Legislative Branch has a main function to make laws, alter, and repeal them through
the power vested in the Philippine Congress.

Legislative Branch

Article VI (The Legislative Department) of 1987 Philippine Constitution specified the role and
responsibilities of the Philippine Senate and the House of Representative. Section I of the said
article states that, ―The legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines which
shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives, except to the extent reserved to the
people by the provision on initiative and referendum.‖ Legislative power refers the authority under
the constitution to make laws and to alter or repel them.

Structure and Organization

The legislative power is vested in a bicameral body, the Congress of the Philippines, which
is composed of two houses -- the Senate and the House Representatives. The Congress of the
Philippines is the country's highest lawmaking body.

Article VI Sections 2 – 4 and Article Sections 5 to 7 stipulated the composition, qualifications, manner of
election, term of office and maximum term of office for Senate and House of Representatives, respectively.

5
Table 7. 1: Philippine Congress

Senate House of representative

Seal

Composition 24 Senators 250 members, unless otherwise fixed

by law

Elected at large Legislative districts apportioned among

Manner of Election Qualified voters of the Philippines the provinces, cities, and the
Metropolitan Manila area in accordance
with the number of their respective
inhabitants, and on the basis of a
uniform and progressive ratio, and
those who, as provided by law, shall be
elected system of registered national,
regional, and sectorial parties or
organizations.

Term of Office 2 Consecutive TERMS 3 Consecutive TERMS

6 Years and shall commence, unless 3 Years and shall commence, unless
Length of Service otherwise provided by law, at noon on otherwise provided by law, at noon on
the 30th day of June next following their the 30th day of June next following their
election. election.

 Natural Born Citizen of the  Natural Born Citizen of the

Philippine Philippine

 At least 35 years of age  At least 25 years of age

Qualifications  Able to read and write  Able to read and write

 Registered Voter  Registered Voter in the district

(except in the party list)

 resident of the Philippines for  Resident thereof for a period of

not less than 2 years not less than 1 year
immediately preceding the day immediately preceding the day
of the election of the election.

Bills and Resolutions

Congress is responsible for making enabling laws to make sure the spirit of the constitution is
upheld in the country and, at times, amend or change the constitution itself. In order to craft laws, the
legislative body comes out with two main documents: bills and resolutions.

Resolutions convey principles and sentiments of the Senate or the House of Representatives.
These resolutions can further be divided into three different elements:

 Joint resolutions — require the approval of both chambers of Congress and the signature of the President,
and have the force and effect of a law if approved.

6
  concurrent resolutions — used for matters affecting the operations of both chambers of Congress and
must be approved in the same form by both houses, but are not transmitted to the President for his
signature and therefore have no force and effect of a law.

 Simple resolutions — deal with matters entirely within the prerogative of one chamber of Congress, are not
referred to the President for his signature, and therefore have no force and effect of a law.

Bills are laws in the making. They pass into law when they are approved by both houses and the President
of the Philippines. A bill may be vetoed by the President, but the House of Representatives may overturn a
presidential veto by garnering a 2/3rds vote. If the President does not act on a proposed law submitted by
Congress, it will lapse into law after 30 days of receipt.
Source: https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/about/gov/the-legislative-branch/

In order for a bill to be a law, it undergoes a process and a series of readings and study. The table below
shows the layout of the Legislative Process

Table 7.2 Layout of the Legislative Process

1. Proposals and suggestions are taken from the President, government agencies, private
individuals, interest groups, and legislators themselves.
2. The author(s) then writes the bill and sign it before being filed with the Secretary General.
For the 17th Congress, that person is Atty. Cesar S. Pareja.

7
3. The bill then goes through three readings.
1. The first reading consists of reading the title and author(s) and its referral to the
appropriate committee(s). The committee then studies the bill and either submits it to
the Committee on Rules or is laid on the table.
2. The second reading comes after the bill has been included in the Calendar of
Business by the Committee on Rules. This is when sponsorships, debates, and
amendments take place. A vote is taken after all the debates and amendments, after
which the bill is either archived or goes through a third reading.
3. The third reading happens when the bill goes through a final check and vote via roll
call. If it’s approved, it is then sent to the other house, where it goes through the
same procedures. If not, it gets archived.
8
4. After going through three readings from both houses, the conference committee of both
houses ratifies the bill and submits it to the President for signing. If, however, there are
conflicts in the provisions proposed by both Houses, a Bicameral Conference Committee is
called upon to reconcile them.

9
 5. Once received by the Office of the President, the bill can take one of three routes:
1. Approved. Once it is approved by the President, it becomes a Republic Act and takes effect
15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or at least two national newspapers of
general circulation;
2. Vetoed. The bill is returned to the originating house with an explanation on why it was
vetoed. The house can either accept the veto or override it with a 2/3 (majority) vote, after
which it is essentially approved, and takes effect 15 days after being publicized.
3. Lapsed into law. A bill is said to have lapsed into law if the President fails to act on it within
30 days after receiving the bill. It takes effect 15 days after being publicized.

Source: The Manila Survival Guide, Official Gazette

Powers and Functions of the Congress

Aside from lawmaking, the Congress has also different Powers and Functions.Congress' role in exacting
accountability is crucial as legislators play a part in checking on possible excesses by the executive and judicial
branches of government.

10
The 1987 Philippine Constitution provides many instances when Congress can invoke this power:

1. Congress has the power to remove from office impeachable government officials, including the
President, Vice President, members of the Supreme Court, members of constitutional commissions, and the
Ombudsman. The House of Representatives can tackle impeachment complaints and submit the resolution
setting the Articles of Impeachment. The Senate, meanwhile, decides on cases of impeachment in a full-
blown trial.

2. Congress has the “sole power to declare the existence of a state of war,” according to Section 23 Article
VI of the Constitution. A vote of two-thirds of both Houses, voting separately, is needed.

3. Congress can revoke the President’s proclamation of martial law by a vote of at least a majority of all
members of the Senate and the House. If requested, Congress can also extend the period of martial law
beyond the mandated 60 days.

4. Congress may authorize the President to exercise powers to carry out a declared national policy ―for a
limited period and subject to restrictions" in times of war or other national emergency.

5. Congressional committees can conduct hearings "in aid of legislation” on various issues that affect the
nation and release a report based on findings. For example, the Senate committee in August 2018 conducted
a hearing on the TRAIN law's impact on inflation amid rising prices of commodities.

6. Congress is also involved in the national budget process. It can decide whether or not to add or reduce a
government agency’s budget, effectively overseeing budget appropriations and being on guard against
suspected corruption. This, however, may lead to several clashes, as seen in the 2019 budget that was just
passed on Friday, February 8, after months of delay.

7. Congress, through the Commission on Appointments, can approve or reject some key appointments
made by the president to government agencies.

8. Congress needs to concur with any amnesty granted by the president, according to Section 19, Article
VII of the Constitution. A vote of majority of all members is needed.

9. Congress is heavily involved in starting charter change. It can either convene into a Constituent
Assembly (through a vote of three-fourths of all members) and propose both amendments and revisions, or
call for an election of members of a Constitutional Convention (vote of two-thirds of its members).

What Is It

Activity 2: Citizen Patrol

Direction: Read the Press release about a bill that pushes to protect delivery
riders/drivers against customers’ cancellation of orders. Answer the questions that follow
Sen. Lapid's bill pushes to protect delivery riders, drivers

Senator Manuel "Lito" Lapid has filed a bill which seeks to provide protection to
delivery riders/drivers, by requiring food and grocery delivery service providers
to establish a mandatory reimbursement scheme for cancellation of orders.

For months now, since the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the residents and workers
are forced to stay at home and avoid crowded places that they usually visit such
as restaurants and groceries. To sustain the public's need for food and household
items, people now resort to delivery services wherein the delivery riders are the
front-liners who take the daily risk of going out and ordering food or buying
groceries and deliver them at the doorstep of their customers.

Unfortunately, these delivery riders have recently been exposed to unjustified

cancellation of orders or even to instances of "no-show" customers, despite the
fact that they have already advanced or paid the ordered items.
11
Press Release: July 4, 2020.

"Masakit isipin na sa kabila ng panganib na hinaharap ng mga delivery rider para

lamang makapagserbisyo sa mga customer at kumita ng maliit na halaga, sa huli, sila
pa ang naloloko. Bukod sa nasasayang ang oras at salapi ng mga riders dahil sa
pagkansela ng order, ang mas malala pa, may mga pagkakataon na ni hindi matunton nag
address ng nanlokong customer dahil sa fake address. Hindi tuloy sila mapanagot at
naiiwang lugi at abunado ang mga delivery riders," Lapid said.

Senate Bill 1677 requires the service providers to establish a reimbursement scheme
in favor of deliver riders/drivers which will cover the entire amount of money
advances to purchase the items, in case of cancelation of confirmed orders.
Reimbursements to the riders must be made within one (1) day from cancellation.
To facilitate collection against cancelling customers, this bill also requires the
implementation of Know- Your-Customer (KYC) rules which will entail the submission
and verification of proof of identity and residential address, subject to compliance
with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

"Sa hirap ng buhay ngayon lalo't nasa gitna tayo ng pandemya, lahat naman tayo ay
gustong kumita. Kaya humahanga tayo sa mga gaya ng service riders na gumagawa ng
paraan para kumita sa legal na paraan at malaki pa ang naitutulong nila para hindi na
lumabas ng bahay ang ating mga kababayan. Kaya para masiguro na hindi na sila
maloloko pa ng mga biglaang pagkansela ng order, dapat masiguro na ang mga umoorder
ay magbibigay ng totoong pangalan at address," Lapid added.

Lapid's bill also penalizes repeated acts of unjustified cancellation of confirmed

orders for the delivery of food and/or grocery items when the same has already been
paid by the delivery rider/driver. If a customer cancels for at least three (3) times
in a period of one (1) month, he/she, upon conviction, be subject to the penalty of
arresto mayor or imprisonment of one month and one day to six months. The said
customer will also need to pay a fine of an amount not exceeding P100, 000.

Failure of the food and grocery delivery service providers to set up the
reimbursement scheme is likewise penalized with a fine not exceeding Five Hundred
Thousand Pesos (Php 500,000.00) and double the amount of money not reimbursed to
their delivery riders/drivers.

Questions:
1. Is there a need to create a law to protect delivery riders? Why?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

2. What is the implication of the proposed law towards the behavior of Filipino citizens?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

12
 3. If you were to decide, will you agree with this senate bill to be a law? Why or why not?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Activity 3: On Point!
Direction: Among the functions and powers of a congress as a member of the Legislative Branch, choose one
power that has been exercised by the congress and provide details on how they execute this power.

Example:

Power or Function of the Congress Example of the Execution of Congress Power or

Function

During Philippine SEA Games 2019, the Philippine

Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee
Example: (PHILSGOC) proposed a P9.5Billion budget for the
Congress approves/disapprove national budget. entire event. The House of Representatives, only
approved a P7.5 billion budget, and the Senate
slashed another 33 percent. Thus, P6Billion budget is
funded by government as approved by both House of
Representatives and the Senate.

1.

2.

3.

Activity 4: What Have I Learned So Far?

Directions: Write a reflection learned from the discussion. In writing your reflection, you have to
complete the sentence below in the space provided.

I learned that
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
I realized that
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
If given a chance
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

13
 What I Learned

Legislative branch is the second branch of the Philippine Government. Its main function is to
make law, alter, and repeal them through the power vested in the Philippine Congress. This Branch is
divided into the Senate and the House of Representatives. This branch of Government enacts
legislation, confirms or rejects Presidential appointments, and has the authority to declare war.

In order to craft laws, the legislative body comes out with two main documents: bills and
resolutions. Resolutions convey principles and sentiments of the Senate or the House of Representatives.
These resolutions can further be divided into three different elements: (1) joint, (2) concurrent, and (3)
simple resolutions. While Bills are laws in the making. They pass into law when they are approved by both
houses and the President of the Philippines.

In terms with powers vested to the Philippine Congress, it includes: (1) power to remove from
office impeachable government officials, (2) the sole power to declare the existence of a state of war, (3)
can revoke the President’s proclamation of martial law, (4) authorize the President to exercise powers, (5)
Congressional committees can conduct hearings "in aid of legislation‖, (6) Congress is also involved in the
national budget process, (7) Congress, through the Commission on Appointments, can approve or reject,
(8) Congress needs to concur with any amnesty granted by the president, and (9) Congress is heavily
involved in starting charter change.

What I Can Do

If there is one law that you can propose to the house of Congress, what law will it be and why? Write your own
EXPLANATORY NOTE. Explanatory note are documents that explain the purpose of a Bill. See sample output in the next page.

Criteria for Grading:

14
 Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer and write the CAPITAL LETTER of your answer in
the space provided.

15
16