15th Congress of the Philippines

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The 15th Congress of the Philippines ran from July 26, 2010, to June 6, 2013. It met during the first three years of President Benigno Aquino III’s term, following the 2010 general elections.

Leadership
- Senate: Juan Ponce Enrile served as Senate President for most of the period, with Jinggoy Estrada acting as Senate President from June 2013 after Enrile left the post.
- House of Representatives: Feliciano Belmonte Jr. was the Speaker.
- Other leaders included Senate Majority Leader Tito Sotto and House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II. Minority leaders included Alan Peter Cayetano in the Senate and Edcel Lagman (later Danilo Suarez) in the House.

Composition
- Senate: 24 members.
- House: about 286 members.
- The Liberal Party was the leading party in the Senate and had a strong presence in the House, along with several other parties and independent members.

Major events and issues
- 2011 national budget: The government’s 2011 budget totaled about 1.645 trillion pesos. The House approved it in October 2010; the Senate reviewed it, and President Aquino signed it into law on December 27, 2010 after vetoing 13 items. The budget included increased funding for social programs, including the conditional cash transfer program.
- Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections: There were debates about postponing the barangay elections, but the elections went ahead on October 25, 2010.
- Impeachment of the Ombudsman: In 2010–2011, there were efforts to impeach Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. The House eventually impeached her in March 2011, Gutierrez resigned on April 29, 2011, and the Senate impeachment trial was subsequently canceled.
- Reproductive Health bill: The legislature debated a comprehensive reproductive health bill. By early 2011, the bill was moved toward plenary debates, with amendments discussed (e.g., making sex education optional). Funding for related health programs was allocated in the process.
- Postponement of ARMM elections: President Aquino proposed postponing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections to synchronize with the 2013 mid-term elections. The House passed a postponement bill in March 2011; the Supreme Court later sought comments on the measure.
- Investigations into military funds: The 15th Congress held hearings on alleged misused funds in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including disclosures of a “send-off” money system for retiring generals. These probes involved both the House and Senate and related whistleblower testimony.

Legislation and activities
- The 15th Congress passed a number of laws, including the annual national budget for 2011. It also dealt with bills on social services, governance, and various reform efforts. A separate list of the laws enacted by this Congress exists in official records.

Overview
- The 15th Congress was a busy period under President Aquino, focusing on budgeting, governance reforms, social programs, and accountability measures. It faced high-profile challenges, including impeachment proceedings and major policy debates, while also pushing forward with key legislation and budget implementation for 2011 and beyond.