Manila: A group of House of Representatives leaders on Wednesday rallied behind the proposal of House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander 'Sandro' Marcos to impose a strict 'no work, no pay' policy for members of Congress.
According to Philippines News Agency, the lawmakers, who refer to themselves as Young Guns, assert that this measure is a long-overdue reform aimed at protecting taxpayers, strengthening accountability, and restoring public trust in the legislative institution. Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union emphasized that the bill addresses a fundamental issue of fairness, insisting that public funds should only be disbursed when public service is actually rendered.
"This bill simply ensures that public money is spent only when public work is done," Ortega stated, highlighting that compensation in public office should correlate with actual legislative service. He further clarified that the bill is an institutional reform, not a partisan measure, and that clear rules applying to everyone will protect both the institution and its members.
Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, chair of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, remarked that the proposal subjects lawmakers to the same standards observed by ordinary Filipino workers. "If this principle applies to workers nationwide, it should apply even more to those crafting the laws," Adiong noted, emphasizing that public service begins with showing up and doing the work, and that representation requires presence and participation.
Deputy Speaker Jay Khonghun of Zambales added that the bill reinforces discipline within Congress without restricting legitimate legislative work. "This is not about punishment - it is about professional discipline in lawmaking. Attendance remains a basic measure of responsibility," he said, also underscoring the bill's transparency provisions which mandate public access to attendance records.
House Deputy Majority Leader Rodge Gutierrez of 1-Rider Party-list stated that the proposal is firmly grounded in the Constitution, which allows Congress to regulate its own compensation through legislation. "This is firmly within Congress's constitutional authority. The bill protects public funds by ensuring that salary releases are tied to verified legislative work and closes gaps where public funds could be released without public service," he explained.
House Bill 7432, or the No Work, No Pay for Members of Congress Act, aims to link the salaries and emoluments of senators and representatives to their verified attendance and participation in plenary sessions, committee hearings, and other official legislative functions. In the bill's explanatory note, Marcos highlighted that the measure responds to public concern over absenteeism, accountability, and the use of taxpayer funds, stressing that compensation should be released only when lawmakers fulfill their duties.
The bill includes safeguards for valid absences, such as illness, authorized official travel, and approved legislative missions, while penalizing falsification of attendance records and unauthorized claims for compensation. The Young Guns conveyed that the proposal sends a clear message that public office is a responsibility rooted in service, not entitlement, and that Congress is prepared to hold itself to the standards it expects of the Filipino people.
