MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO
With 217 affirmative and 0 negative votes, the Lower House passed House Bill 7950 or the People Empowerment Act on third and final reading. The 6-man Makabayan bloc abstained.
Sponsored on the floor by Rep. Florida Robes (NUP, San Jose del Monte City), HB 7960 also seeks to create a working environment where people can participate in police and decision-making processes in the country.
Robes, chairperson of the House Committee on People’s Participation, said the measure provides a mechanism by which citizens’ views and opinions in different areas of goverrnance may be heard and considered.
Aside Robes, the bill is co-authored by Reps. Gabriel Bordado (LP, Camarines Sur); Francis Gerald Abaya (NUP, Cavite); Rosanna Vergara (PDP-Laban, Nueva Ecija); and Macnell Lusotan (Ang Marino) and Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.