Best wishes for 2026

Neophyte lawmakers, mostly composed of so-called "nepo babies," got their first brush with the numbers game in Congress.

- MARICHU A. VILLANUEVA

They learned the precious lessons in last Monday's session on how being outnumbered by pro-administration House members can sweep aside stiff resistance or opposition against any proposed legislation. This they saw in the quick ratification process of the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) last Monday.

There are about 60 or so first-timers out of the 318 members in the House of Representatives elected last May. The "nepo babies" - they are either children of or belong to political dynasties in the Philippines - got dazed by the fast-break by which the 2026 GAA was ratified. It even foiled Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste's plan to deliver a privilege speech before the 20th Congress wound down for their month-long recess.

After the necrological rites for their late colleague Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, the House went back to conduct their usual order of business for the last session day for this year. And as agreed with their Senate counterparts, the Lower House tackled the only item on the agenda for the extended session to ratify the consolidated version of the 2026 GAA as put together by the bicameral conference committee (bicam).

The much vaunted "railroad express" in the august halls of Congress goes into high gear whenever needed to ensure the final approval of any any proposed bills, including the annual budget.

Via their modified session of "zoom conferencing," House deputy speaker Ilocos Sur Rep. Cristina Singson and House deputy majority leader Iloilo Rep. Lawrence Defensor went into the motion of the ratification process, done in less than a minute with voice votes of "ayes" and "nays."