A MEASURE seeking to define and regulate lobbying in Congress will be up for discussion in the House of Representatives until the Christmas break, a lawmaker said yesterday.
“Yes, the [proposed] lobby disclosure act is a priority,” Majority Leader Neptali M. Gonzales II (Mandaluyong City) said in a text message.
Cognizant of the measure’s thrust in line with the administration’s campaign for transparency, Mr. Gonzales said House Bill (HB) 5298 will be discussed in plenary debates in the next 15 session days.
The measure was approved by the committee on people’s participation on Oct. 11.
The proposed Lobbying Disclosure Act, originally authored by Marikina Rep. Marcelino R. Teodoro (1st district), is patterned after similar laws and rules in the United States, where lobby groups are registered and their activities regulated by a joint congressional secretariat.
“Transparency and good governance entail, among others, revealing all information related to lobbying activities and transactions involving government offices,” Mr. Teodoro said in the bill’s explanatory note.
Lobbying refers to the practice of influencing the introduction, shepherding, or passage of legislation in Congress, as well as intervening in the official decisions of public officials and the implementation of government programs and projects.
Other lobbying activities identified in the measure include drafting of implementing rules and regulations, formulation of policies, and expenditure of public money.
A lobbyist refers to any person or entity, including a corporation, partnership, or an association, who engages in the practice of lobbying for a regular salary, a retainer, or other compensation, or a nonmonetary benefit.
Violators of transparency rules face a fine ranging from P30,000 to P50,000 and shall be prohibited from acting as lobbyist for three years from the date of conviction.
Deputy Minority Leader Danilo E. Suarez (3rd district, Quezon) earlier said that strong lobby of big corporations have stalled the passage of important measures such as the anti-trust bill. Mr. Suarez is a coauthor of the proposal.
Sought for comment, political analyst Ramon C. Casiple said citizens have the right to lobby for their desired laws but the process must be transparent and free of corruption.
Although there is a need to regulate lobbyists, he said the law must be “well-crafted so as not to restrict legitimate lobby.”
Two counterpart measures — Senate Bills 1661 and 1615 — are pending with the committee on civil service and government reorganization.
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By: Noemi M. Gonzales
Source: Business World, Nov. 14, 2011
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