Batasang Pambansa

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The Batasang Pambansa (English: National Assembly, lit. National Legislature), also known by its nickname, the Batasan, was the former parliament of the Philippines, established as an interim assembly in 1978 and finally as an official body in 1984. Under the 1973 constitution, it replaced the former Congress established under the 1935 Commonwealth constitution. The Batasan was one of two unicameral parliaments in Philippine history, the other being the Malolos Congress under the 1899 constitution.

History

The original provisions of the 1973 Constitution, which was ratified on January 17, 1973, provides for the establishment of a unicameral National Assembly. Upon its ratification, an interim National Assembly, composed of the incumbent President and Vice President of the Philippines, those who served as President of the 1971 Constitutional Convention, the Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and those Delegates to the 1971 Constitutional Convention, was established and functioned as the Legislature.

However, the regular National Assembly, under the 1973 Constitution, was not convened. By virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1033, or the 1976 amendments to the Constitution, the National Assembly has been replaced by the interim Batasang Pambansa, and with it, all the powers inherent from the original body have been transferred to the Batasan. The members of the regular Batasang Pambansa includes the regional representatives, sectoral representatives, and those chosen by the incumbent President from the members of the Cabinet.

Before the convening of the regular Batasang Pambansa, the interim Batasang Pambansa, composed of 120 members, served as the Legislature. The members include the incumbent President of the Philippines, representatives elected from different regions and from different sectors, and those chosen by the incumbent President from the members of Cabinet. In 1981, the semi-parliament was formally convened as the "Batasang Pambansa." In 1984, the Batasan tried to impeach Ferdinand E. Marcos, but was unsuccessful.

The Batasang Pambansa was subsequently dissolved as a legislative body when Proclamation No. 3, popularly known as the 1986 Freedom Constitution, was promulgated on March 25, 1986.

The Batasang Pambansa Complex

The complex started construction in 1958 following the naming of Quezon City as the new capital city. It was intended to be the home of the bicameral Congress. However, due to lack of funding, only the foundations were laid. Construction stopped until the 1970s when the Marcos administration set aside the location as the home of the Batasang Pambansa. Architect Felipe M. Mendoza designed the completed complex, which was opened on May 31, 1978.

Following the People Power Revolution and the ratification of the 1987 constitution, the legislative branch again became bicameral. The numerically larger House of Representatives retained the session hall and offices of the old Batasang Pambansa on the grounds of the complex. The smaller, newly-reinstated Senate returned to the original legislative building in Manila until the complex was turned over to the National Museum of the Philippines under the administration of Fidel V. Ramos, and has since moved to the GSIS Building on reclaimed land on Manila Bay in Pasay.

On November 13, 2007, an explosion occurred on the south wing of the complex killing four people and injuring six more. Three of the victims were legislators.

External links

• Website of the Philippine House of Representatives: Brief History of the Philippine Congress