13th Congress of the Philippines

Charter Change

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in her several State of the Nation Addresses has repeatedly called on Congress to pave the way for the amending of the 1987 Constitution to provide for a unicameral–parliamentary–federal form of government. On December 8, 2006, the administration-dominated House of Representatives, bypassing the Senate, passed in haste House Resolution 1450, which called on Congress to convene into a Constituent Assembly (ConAss) to propose amendments to the Constitution. The House move however, was faced with stiff opposition from the outmaneuvered members of the opposition and all but 1 member of the Senate, which was later bolstered by support from several sectors of the civil society and the influential Roman Catholic Church, which threatened to hold nationwide protest rallies to denounce the House move. Succumbing to the mounting opposition and the apparent withdrawal of support of the President, House Speaker Jose De Venecia later on scrapped the entire resolution and called instead for a constitutional convention, challenging the Senate to concur it in 72 hours. But this too was rejected by the Senate, which preferred to hold a constitutional convention after the 2007 elections. Efforts to amend the constitution during the 13th Congress were eventually shelved.

Sessions

First Regular Session: July 26, 2004–June 7, 2005

First Special Session: January 5–February 10, 2005

Second Special Session: March 1–April 1, 2005

Second Regular Session: July 25, 2005–June 5, 2006

Third Regular Session: July 24, 2006–June 8, 2007

Third Special Session: February 19–February 20, 2007

Special Centennial Session: June 7, 2007

Legislation

Laws passed by the 13th Congress: 149 (Republic Act No. 9333 to 9495), as of September 7, 2007

Major legislation

Republic Act No. 9334 — Increase of Excise Tax on Alcohol and Tobacco Products

Republic Act No. 9335 — Attrition Act of 2005

Republic Act No. 9337 — Expanded Value-Added Tax Law

Republic Act No. 9341 — Rent Control Act of 2005

Republic Act No. 9343 — Special Purpose Vehicle Act of 2002 Amendments

Republic Act No. 9344 — Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006

Republic Act No. 9346 — Death Penalty Abolition

Republic Act No. 9347 — Rationalizing the Composition and Functions of the National Labor Relations Commission

Republic Act No. 9359 — Appropriation of a Standby Fund for the Guimaras Oil Spill Clean Up, Mayon Volcano Relief Operations, OFW Repatriation

Republic Act No. 9367 — Biofuels Act of 2006

Republic Act No. 9369 — Amending the Election Modernization Act

Republic Act No. 9372 — Human Security Act of 2007

Republic Act No. 9379 — Handline Fishing Law

Republic Act No. 9396 — Redefining the term "Veteran"

Republic Act No. 9399 — One-Time Amnesty for Businesses in the Special Economic Zones and Freeports

Republic Act No. 9400 — Amending the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992

Republic Act No. 9406 —Reorganization and Strengthening of the Public Attorney's Office

Republic Act No. 9416 — Unlawful Cheating in the Civil Service Commission Examinations

Republic Act No. 9417 — Strengthening the Office of the Solicitor General

Republic Act No. 9418 —Institutionalizing Strategy for Rural Development

Republic Act No. 9422 — Amending the Migration Workers and Overseas Act of 1995

Republic Act No. 9433 — Magna Carta for Public Social Workers

Senate

President of the Senate

Senate President Pro-Tempore

Majority Floor Leader

Minority Floor Leader

House of Representatives

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Deputy Speakers

Luzon: Emilio R. Espinosa (NPC, 2nd District Masbate) Visayas: Raul V. del Mar (Lakas-CMD, 1st District Cebu City) Mindanao: Abdulgani A. Salapuddin (Lakas-CMD, Lone District Basilan) Central Luzon: Benigno S. Aquino III (Liberal, 2nd District Tarlac) Eric D. Singson (Liberal, 2nd District Ilocos Sur), elected February 21, 2006.

Majority Floor Leader

Minority Floor Leader

House of Representatives

The term of office of the current members of the House of Representatives is from June 30, 2004 to June 30, 2007.