Batasang Pambansa

Batasang Pambansa in Manila is the place where the members of the House of Representative or the Lower House hold the sessions. This monument in Manila is the symbol of democracy where the members discuss and argue social, economic and other issues of national importance. The National Assembly is also known as Batasan.

History reveals that Batasan was the former Parliament of the Philippines that was established as an interim assembly in 1976 and then in 1981 became an official body. It was in 1973 that it replaced the former Congress established under the 1935 Commonwealth Constitution. Today the term Batasan signifies the Batasang Pambansa Complex where the Lower House holds the sessions.

The Batasang Pambansa has seen tumultuous times during the tenure of President Marcos that imposed Martial law and curtailed the press and dissolved the bicameral Congress and formed the barangay/assembly to justify his policies and the 1973 constitution. In 1976 he started to implement the 1973 constitution that included the organization of the Batasang Pambansa or the National Assembly. In 1984 the Batasang was unsuccessful in its effort to impeach the President and was later dissolved. In 1987 the constitution made the legislative bicameral.

The House of Representatives retained the hall and the offices of the Batasang Pambansa and the Senate returned to the Legislative building in Manila. The strength of the Batasang Pambansa in Manila is 218 who are elected and amongst them there are 12 presidential appointees. The Batasang Pambansa of Manila is also used for the joint sessions of the Philippine Parliament.

The construction of Batasang Pambansa complex began in 1950s and due to lack of funds the complex was not completed until 1970s under the Marcos administration. The Batasan is located on Batasan Road, Quezon City.

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