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Recurring absenteeism in the Congress has been an age-old problem, that there are more sessions being cancelled because the house wasn’t able to complete a quorum. To curb this problem on absenteeism, Nueva Ecija Rep. Edno Joson proposed a “no-work, no-pork” policy to be adopted.

“If pork barrel fund releases of absentees are withheld, maybe they will be forced to attend sessions,” Joson said. If there is a no-work, no-pay policy for private sector workers, he said there should be a no-work, no-pork rule for absentee members of the House of Representatives.

But Joson was quick to add that such threats do not have to be made on lawmakers “since we have to be conscientious in doing our duties, one of which is to attend sessions. The Constitution commands us to be honest and diligent in doing our job.”

For his part, Speaker Prospero Nograles said he could not adopt Joson’s suggestion. “Projects are the entitlements of the legislative districts and not a personal property of the congressman or woman who merely represents the district. Our only role is to identify projects. We can’t waive the entitlements of our constituents by absenteeism, laziness, tardiness, or the like,” he said.

Threats of pay and pork barrel fund cuts have also been made in the past, together with a shame campaign plan that called for the publication of the names of absentees in newspapers of national circulation. But none of these materialized.

Joson is one of the few House members who make it a point to be present in all session and sit through them until adjournment. Representative Roilo Golez of Parañaque City and Carlos Padilla of Nueva Viscaya, and some militant party-list members, are some those who were always present too.

Some newly-proclaimed party-list representatives have been said to be often absent. Five of them joined President Arroyo’s visit to the United States late last month until the first week of August after barely warming their seats.