Joint session of the Congress of the Philippines

Gathering of members of both houses of Congress

Joint session of the Congress of the Philippines

Seals of the Senate (left) and of the House of Representatives (right)

Leadership

President of the Senate

Francis Escudero, NPC
since May 20, 2024

Speaker of the House

Martin Romualdez (Lakas)
since July 25, 2022

Seats| 340 voting members

* 24 senators
* 316 representatives

Meeting place
Batasang Pambansa Complex, Batasan Hills, Quezon City, Philippines

A joint session of the Congress of the Philippines is a gathering of members of the two chambers of the bicameral legislature of the government of the Philippines: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

## Background

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A joint session can be convened for the following:

* To declare the existence of a state of war
* Canvassing of votes after a presidential election[1]
* Every State of the Nation Address
* Revocation or extension of the
* Proclamation of martial law,[2][3] or
* Suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus

## List of joint sessions

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### State of the Nation Addresses

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Main article: List of State of the Nation Addresses (Philippines)

| Congress  | Date  | President

|
|
|

First made before a joint session | 1st (Commonwealth) | June 9, 1945 | Sergio Osmeña
Most recent | 19th | July 24, 2023 | Bongbong Marcos

### Receiving foreign dignitaries

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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaking at a Congress joint session in November 2023.

Special joint sessions can also be convened to facilitate visiting foreign leaders' addresses to Congress.[4]

Congress  | Date  | Foreign dignitary  | Notes

|
|
|

Name  | Country  | Title
4th | June 15, 1960 | Dwight Eisenhower | United States | President | Eisenhower spoke about the two countries' cooperation and mutual opposition toward communism.[5]
12th | October 18, 2003 | George W. Bush | United States | President | Bush underscored the military alliance of the United States and the Philippines as well as pledged to help the Philippines modernize its military.[6]
13th | April 19, 2005 | Pervez Musharraf | Pakistan | President | Musharraf addressed the Moro people to disavow terrorism and abandon secessionism. He also pledged Pakistan's support for Philippines' bid for observer status in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.[7]
April 27, 2005 | Hu Jintao | China | President | Hu announced a "golden age" in Sino-Philippine ties and assured China is a good neighbor. He also emphasized the growth of the economic ties between China and ASEAN.[8]
February 6, 2006 | A. P. J. Abdul Kalam | India | President | Kalam showcased the "Indo-Philippine Cooperation Roadmap" which proposed bolstering economic ties between India and the Philippines. He encouraged the Philippines to develop its solar power industry.[9]
19th | November 4, 2023 | Fumio Kishida | Japan | Prime Minister | Kishida pledged to further military cooperation between his country and the Philippines. He also touted cooperation between the two countries alongside the United States in guaranteeing "freedom in the South China Sea" (See Territorial disputes in the South China Sea).[10]

## References

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1. ^ "Rules of the Joint Public Session of Congress for the Canvassing of the Votes for the Presidential and Vice-presidential Candidates in the May 9, 2022 Elections" (PDF). House of Representatives of the Philippines. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
2. ^ Cervantes, Filane Mikee (13 March 2017). "Congress holds joint session on martial law extension". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
3. ^ Elemia, Camille (27 May 2017). "No joint session on martial law? Congress 'shields' Duterte". Rappler. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
4. ^ Chi, Cristina (1 November 2023). "Congress to hold joint session for Japan PM Kishida". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
5. ^ "Address Before a Joint Session of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives". The American Presidency Project. University of California, Santa Barbara. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
6. ^ "Leftist Filipino MPs walk out on Bush". Al Jazeera. 18 April 2003. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
7. ^ Diaz, Jess (20 April 2005). "Musharraf urges local Muslims: Abandon terrorism". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
8. ^ Diaz, Jess (28 April 2005). "'RP, China ties in a golden age'". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
9. ^ Porcalla, Delon; Adraneda, Katherine (7 February 2006). "Indian president addresses Congress, urges RP to use solar energy". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
10. ^ "Japan, Philippines, U.S. team up in South China Sea, Kishida says". Nikkei Asia. Reuters. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.