The 15th Congress of the Philippines (Filipino: Ikalabinlimang Kongreso ng Pilipinas), composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives, met from July 26, 2010, until June 6, 2013, during the first three years of Benigno Aquino III's presidency. The convening of the 15th Congress followed the 2010 general elections, which replaced half of the Senate membership and the entire membership of the House of Representatives.
Leadership
Senate
President of the Senate
Juan Ponce Enrile (PMP), elected July 26, 2010, resigned June 5, 2013
Jinggoy Estrada (PMP), assumed position June 5, 2013 as Acting President of the Senate Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada (PMP), elected July 26, 2010 Majority Floor Leader Tito Sotto (NPC), Minority Floor Leader Alan Peter Cayetano (Nacionalista),
House of Representatives
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. (Liberal, 4th District of Quezon City), elected July 26, 2010 Deputy Speakers Lorenzo Tañada III (Liberal, 4th District of Quezon) Raul Daza (Liberal, 1st District of Northern Samar) Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, (Liberal, 1st District of Zamboanga City) Pablo P. Garcia (One Cebu/NUP, 3rd District of Cebu) Arnulfo Fuentebella (NPC, 3rd District of Camarines Sur) Jesus Crispin Remulla (Nacionalista, 7th District of Cavite) Majority Floor Leader Neptali Gonzales II (Liberal, Lone District of Mandaluyong) Minority Floor Leader Edcel Lagman (Independent (Lakas–CMD until January 19, 2012), 1st District of Albay), until January 20, 2012 Danilo Suarez (Lakas–CMD, 3rd District of Quezon), since January 20, 2012
Sessions
First regular session: July 26, 2010 – June 6, 2011
Second regular session: July 25, 2011 – June 6, 2012
Third regular session: July 23, 2012 – June 5, 2013
Party summary
Senate
House of Representatives
Members
Party standing
Senate
*for purposes of quorum and voting, the vacant seat is included.
House of Representatives
Memberships in committees and other bodies
Note: Doesn't include oversight committees created for specific laws.
Commission on Appointments
The Senate President sits as the chair of the Commission on Appointments, who can only vote to break ties; the head of the contingent of the House of Representatives serves as the vice chairman and can vote not just only to break ties.
Judicial and Bar Council
The chairs of the respective houses' committees of justice shall serve as ex officio members of the Judicial and Bar Council. The Chief Justice is the ex officio chairman, while the president appoints the members, with confirmation from the Commission on Appointments.
Electoral tribunals
The Senate Electoral Tribunal is composed of six senators and three justices of the Supreme Court; the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal on the other hand is composed of six representatives and three justices of the Supreme Court.
Senate committees
The Senate President, Senate President pro tempore and the Floor Leaders are ex officio members of all committees; the majority floor leader is automatically the chair of the Committee on Rules.
House of Representatives committees
The Speaker, Deputy Speakers and the Floor Leaders are ex officio members of all committees; the majority floor leader is automatically the chair of the Committee on Rules.
Legislative activities
Legislative calendar
First Regular Session: Commencement: July 26, 2010 Adjournment: October 16, 2010 Resumption: November 8, 2010 Adjournment: December 18, 2010 Resumption: January 17, 2011 Adjournment: March 26, 2011 Resumption: May 9, 2011 Adjournment: June 9, 2011 Second Regular Session Commencement: July 25, 2011 Third Regular Session
First Regular Session
Convening
Unlike at the beginning of the 14th Congress, the election of the presiding officers for both houses proceeded without incident as Quezon City representative Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. of the Liberal Party was elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives while Juan Ponce Enrile of PMP was re-elected Senate President. Alan Peter Cayetano of the Nacionalistas and Albay representative Edcel Lagman of Lakas-Kampi were named minority floor leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively.