MANILA, Philippines — Ninety-eight members of the House of Representatives are set to receive formal recognition after recording perfect attendance in all 39 plenary sessions during the First Regular Session of the 20th Congress.
The recognition is being pushed through House Resolution No. 1394, which seeks to commend lawmakers who attended every plenary session held during the first regular session, which ran from July 2025 to June 2026.
House Ethics and Privileges Committee Chairman JC Abalos said the initiative is intended to promote discipline, accountability and commitment among elected public officials.
For Abalos, ethics should not focus solely on punishing misconduct. He said lawmakers who consistently fulfill their duties should also be recognized as part of efforts to strengthen the institution.
“Ethics should not only be about punishment.”
The resolution was filed by House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, and Abalos.
WHY 39 SESSIONS MATTER
The House held 39 plenary sessions during the period covered by the resolution. A perfect-attendance record means the 98 lawmakers had no recorded absence from those plenary proceedings.
House Resolution No. 1394 describes regular plenary attendance as a fundamental responsibility of lawmakers because their presence allows them to participate in legislative debates, voting and the House’s oversight functions.
The House currently has hundreds of sitting members, making the 98 lawmakers a relatively small portion of the chamber.
That distinction has drawn attention because attendance is directly connected to a representative’s ability to participate in the chamber’s legislative work.
THE HOUSE SAYS IT IS ABOUT MORE THAN ATTENDANCE
The proposed recognition is being framed by the Ethics and Privileges Committee as part of a broader culture of accountability.
Abalos emphasized that recognizing positive conduct can complement the committee’s traditional role in dealing with violations and disciplinary matters.
The idea is straightforward: if ethics is meant to encourage responsible public service, lawmakers who demonstrate consistent attendance and participation should also have their conduct acknowledged.
The House’s official announcement likewise says the 98 members are being recognized for maintaining perfect attendance throughout all 39 plenary sessions.
OTHER REPORTS CONFIRM THE 98-LAWMAKER FIGURE
The development has also been reported by other Philippine news organizations.
Manila Bulletin reported that a House resolution identified 98 members with perfect attendance during the first regular session of the 20th Congress.
Regional outlet Iloilo Metropolitan Times separately reported that Iloilo City Rep. Julienne “Jam-Jam” Baronda and Iloilo First District Rep. Janette Garin were among the 98 lawmakers. The report said the 39 plenary sessions covered the period from July 28, 2025, to June 3, 2026.
This provides additional context to the national announcement: the recognition covers lawmakers from different districts and party-list groups across the country, rather than a single political bloc.
BUT PERFECT ATTENDANCE IS ONLY ONE MEASURE
While perfect attendance is notable, it does not by itself measure the entire performance of a lawmaker.
A representative’s work also includes committee hearings, constituent services, legislative proposals, consultations and oversight activities outside plenary sessions.
The House’s recognition therefore focuses specifically on plenary attendance, rather than declaring the 98 lawmakers the country’s best-performing legislators.
That distinction is important as the proposed commendation moves forward.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The immediate issue is the formal recognition of the 98 lawmakers named in House Resolution No. 1394.
For the House Ethics and Privileges Committee, however, the initiative carries a larger message: accountability should include not only sanctions when lawmakers violate standards, but also recognition when they demonstrate consistent commitment to their duties.
With 98 representatives recording perfect attendance across 39 plenary sessions, the House is now turning the spotlight toward a question that goes beyond who showed up.
Can consistent attendance translate into stronger legislative performance and greater public accountability?
That is ultimately the standard voters will be watching long after the certificates and commendations are handed out.
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