Speaker Arroyo (center) holds a press conference Friday night before Congress adjourns to take its election period recess in the next two months. (Hana Bordey photo)

Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for respecting the independence of the House of Representatives especially during the deliberations of the proposed 2019 budget.

“We also appreciate President Duterte for respecting the constitutional mandate of the House and the Senate in the budget process. His cognizance of the need for transparency and accountability during his watch, served as a beacon of guidance and inspiration for us all,” said Arroyo in a late press conference Friday night after the House ratified the proposed 2019 National Budget.

The former president also thanked both chambers of Congress which starts a two-month break to take part in the mid-term elections.

“Both the House and the Senate should be congratulated for passing the budget in a process characterized by hard work and collective wisdom. The two bodies worked independently, but in harmony, in scrutinizing the budget, so in the end, it is a joint achievement,” she added.

During the recess, the Speaker said she will continue with the Oversight hearings to make sure that the laws made by Congress are properly implemented.

“Our oversight committee hearings shall continue during the three month campaign recess chaired by the several congessmen who are either not running for any post in May or are running unopposed. When we return from the campaign recess, we will go back to legislation. We expect several of the bills we have passed on third reading to be acted on by the Senate in the last month of the 17th congress. In that case there will be bicameral conferences and reports to be ratified,” she said.

Congress will resume session on 20 May 2019.