MARIE YUVIENCO: Bragging Rights
By Marie Yuvienco, InterAksyon.com
February 9, 2013

To some extent, members of the House of Representatives have every reason to pat themselves on the head for enacting “historic and game-changing” laws.

The 15th Congress, before it adjourned for the campaign period, did pass a number of statutes significant for, first, the amount of opposition they garnered, and second, their controversial subject matter.

On top of the list is Republic Act No. 10354, the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, which squeaked by the halls of Congress despite massive opposition from the Roman Catholic Church.

Also contentious was Republic Act No. 10351, the Sin Tax Reform law, which was passed despite massive opposition from tobacco lobbyists and pro-smoking advocates.

And perhaps most poignantly, the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013 hurdled massive indifference brought by a short memory and the passage of years to give justice to the untold number of victims of martial law.

In all, since Noynoy Aquino assumed the presidency in June 2010 until this month, Congress passed 219 laws, but this achievement dims in light of one abysmal failure: the failure to pass the Freedom of Information bill.

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