Re-electionist First District Representative Rene L. Relampagos bared that during his first-term as a neophyte lawmaker, he has filed 32 laws as principal author, 19 of which has local significance, 13 of national significance. He has likewise co-authored 98 laws. Nine of these bills have already been signed into law. As Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights, he has enacted two laws: the “Anti-enforced Disappearance Act of 2012” and the “Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013” which Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III signed in time for the EDSA Celebration this year. Rep. Relampagos has been known by his constituents in the first district for his varied projects such as his health programs, financial assistance for indigents, scholarship programs, livelihood programs, support for the health needs of the senior citizens, his road improvement projects and many others. He said that what may not be known to many are the laws he has authored and co-authored as lawmaker.

The following are just some of the laws he has filed as principal author: HB 4799 – An act penalizing persons driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages and/or drugs and for other purposes; HB 4849 – An Act to Institute Policies to Prohibit Commercial Dealings in Human Organs, Tissues and/or Parts, Providing Penalties Therefor for its Violations, and for other Purposes; HB 5921 - An Act Establishing an Eldercare Center for Unattended, Abandoned, Neglected and Homeless Senior Citizens in the First District of the Province of Bohol, Appropriating Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes and HB 3739 – An Act Mandating Private Schools, Colleges and Universities to Grant Free Bachelor’s or Undergraduate Degree Courses in Arts, Humanities, Natural and Social Sciences and Technology to Qualified Underprivileged College Students by Providing Incentives Thereof and for other Purposes; HB 6473 – An Act Increasing the Bed Capacity of Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) in Tagbilaran City, Province of Bohol from Two Hundred Twenty Five (225) to Four Hundred Ten (410) Beds, Authorizing the Increase of its Medical Personnel, Upgrading its Services, Facilities and Professional Health Care, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act. No. 7277 and Appropriating Funds Therefore.

The following are some of the laws Rep. Relampagos has filed as co-author:

HB 00095 – An Act Providing Incentives to All Barangay Officials, including Barangay Tanods and Members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa, and Barangay Employees and for other Purposes; HB 00515 – An Act Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Providing Penalties Therefor; HB 02142 – An Act Upgrading the Minimum Salary Grade of Public School Teachers from Salary Grade 11 to 15; HB 03537 – An Act to Promote a Comprehensive Program for Breastfeeding Practices in the Philippines; HB 03665 – An Act Providing for the Establishment of City and Municipal Rehabilitation Centers for Children and Young Adults with Disabilities; HB 03133 – An Act Mandating All Private Colleges and Universities to Grant Scholarships to at Least Twenty Percent (20%) of its Total Tertiary Level Student Publication Particularly the Poor but Deserving Graduates of Public High Schools and Dependents of the Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police; HB 04134 – An Act Providing for a Teaching Supplies Allowance for Public School Teachers and Appropriating Funds Therefore and HB 03528 – An Act Establishing the People’s Survival Fund to Provide Long-term Finance Streams to Enable the Government to Effectively Address the Problem of Climate Change, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 9729, otherwise Known as ‘The Climate Change Act of 2009’, and for other Purposes.

The following are some of the bills Rep. Relampagos co-authored that have already been signed into law:

RA10172– An Act Further Authorizing the City or Municipal Civil Registrar or the Consul General to Correct Clerical or Typographical Errors in the Day and Month in the Date of Birth or Sex of a Person Appearing in the Civil Register without the Need of a Judicial Order, Amending for this Purpose Republic Act Numbered Ninety Forty-eight; RA 10361 – An Act Instituting Policies for the Protection and Welfare of Domestic Workers and RA10174 – An Act Establishing the People’s Survival Fund to Provide Long-term Finance Streams to Enable the Government to Effectively Address the problem of Climate Change, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 9729, otherwise Known as the ‘Climate Change Act of 2009’, and for other Purposes.

The laws Rep. Relampagos has filed both as principal author and co-author have been noted to reflect his platform of governance encapsulated in the acronym, ‘G O O D H E A L T H’ which means “Golden Opportunities Of the District in Health and Sanitation, Education and Environment, Agriculture, Livelihood, Tourism and Human Resources Development.”

Rep. Relampagos said that there are still more laws that he wants to file and expressed hope that he will be able to file them if given another term by his constituents during the upcoming elections. (by Jill Christianae R. Robinson)