Interim Batasang Pambansa

The Interim Batasang Pambansa, commonly abbreviated as IBP and also known in English as the Interim National Assembly, was the national legislative body of the Philippines from June 12, 1978, through June 5, 1984. It was created within the constitutional structure established during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos and was intended to function as a transitional parliament while the country moved away from the pre-existing presidential system toward a parliamentary-oriented form of government. The body’s constitutional background was complex. The original 1973 Constitution provided for an Interim National Assembly, but that assembly was never convened. A series of constitutional amendments approved in a referendum-plebiscite on October 16–17, 1976, changed the institutional design and enabled the creation of the Interim Batasang Pambansa instead. The new legislature was convened on June 12, 1978, following elections held under the political conditions of the martial-law period. The Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, the governing political movement associated with Marcos, held the dominant position in the chamber, while opposition representation was limited but present. Ferdinand Marcos served as president of the body and initially also held the office of prime minister. Cesar Virata became prime minister on July 28, 1981, after Marcos ceased to hold that position. Querube Makalintal served as speaker from July 31, 1978. Other prominent officers included Cesar Virata and later Jose Roño as deputy prime minister, Blah T. Sinsuat as speaker pro tempore, Jose Roño as majority leader, and Hilario Davide Jr. as minority leader. The IBP held six regular sessions between 1978 and 1984. During its existence, it enacted 702 laws. Its legislative output covered public finance, taxation, banking, corporate regulation, labor, criminal law, transportation, energy conservation, population and census administration, overseas Filipinos, electoral administration, and local governance. Among its better-known enactments were the Anti-Bouncing Check Law, the Corporation Code, the General Banking Act, the Savings and Loan Association Act, the Energy Conservation Act of 1980, and the Barangay Election Act of 1982. It also enacted measures concerning constitutional plebiscites and amendments to several economic and administrative statutes. The body was transitional by design and remained closely connected to the executive-centered political order of the Marcos era. Its operation illustrated the constitutional shift toward parliamentary institutions without eliminating the concentration of political authority in the presidency. The Interim Batasang Pambansa was replaced by the regular Batasang Pambansa on June 5, 1984, following constitutional and institutional changes. It therefore does not represent a continuing organization or commercial brand, but a historical Philippine state institution.

The Interim Batasang Pambansa emerged from the constitutional reorganization of the Philippine government during the Marcos administration. The 1973 Constitution envisioned an Interim National Assembly, but that institution was never convened. Constitutional amendments approved in a referendum-plebiscite on October 16–17, 1976, altered the transition arrangements and provided the basis for a different legislative body, the Interim Batasang Pambansa. The IBP began its work on June 12, 1978. It was designed to operate as a transitional national legislature while the Philippines moved toward a parliamentary-oriented system. Its composition reflected the political environment of the period: the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, the governing movement aligned with Ferdinand Marcos, was dominant, while opposition groups held a minority presence. Marcos served as president of the body. He was also prime minister until June 30, 1981, after which Cesar Virata assumed the prime ministership on July 28, 1981. Querube Makalintal became speaker on July 31, 1978. The chamber’s other reported officers included Cesar Virata and later Jose Roño as deputy prime minister, Blah T. Sinsuat as speaker pro tempore, Jose Roño as majority leader, and Hilario Davide Jr. as minority leader. The institution held six regular sessions: the first from June 12, 1978, to June 6, 1979; the second from July 23, 1979, to June 11, 1980; the third from July 28, 1980, to April 28, 1981; the fourth from July 27, 1981, to June 1, 1982; the fifth from July 26, 1982, to April 14, 1983; and the sixth from July 25, 1983, to June 5, 1984. During its six-year existence, the IBP enacted 702 laws. Its work included annual appropriations, tax policy, banking and financial regulation, corporate law, labor regulation, criminal law, transport, energy, census administration, overseas Filipino affairs, and local elections. Batas Pambansa Blg. 22, the Anti-Bouncing Check Law, became one of its most recognizable enactments. Batas Pambansa Blg. 68, the Corporation Code, created a major statutory framework for corporations. Other notable measures included the General Banking Act, the Savings and Loan Association Act, amendments to the Development Bank of the Philippines charter, the Energy Conservation Act of 1980, and the Barangay Election Act of 1982. The legislature also participated in the constitutional transition by setting dates for plebiscites concerning amendments to the 1973 Constitution. Its institutional history is inseparable from the broader authoritarian political system of the time, in which formal legislative activity coexisted with substantial executive dominance. The IBP ceased to exist on June 5, 1984, when it was replaced by the regular Batasang Pambansa. It was therefore a historical state institution rather than a continuing organization or commercial brand.

• 1984

  The IBP was replaced

  [1]Interim Batasang Pambansaen.wikipedia.org

  The Interim Batasang Pambansa ended on June 5, 1984, and was succeeded by the regular Batasang Pambansa.

• 1981

  Prime ministership transferred to Cesar Virata

  [1]Interim Batasang Pambansaen.wikipedia.org

  Cesar Virata became prime minister on July 28, 1981, while Ferdinand Marcos continued as president.

• 1978

  The Interim Batasang Pambansa convened

  [1]Interim Batasang Pambansaen.wikipedia.org

  The transitional national legislature began operating on June 12, 1978.

• 1976

  Constitutional amendments created the basis for the IBP

  [1]Interim Batasang Pambansaen.wikipedia.org

  Amendments approved in a referendum-plebiscite on October 16–17, 1976, superseded the unimplemented Interim National Assembly arrangements and enabled the later creation of the Interim Batasang Pambansa.

A transitional national legislature established under the amended 1973 Philippine Constitution during the shift toward a parliamentary-oriented governmental system.

• National legislation · 1978

  Batas Pambansa legislation

  The IBP’s principal output was national legislation, with 702 laws enacted during its existence. These measures addressed appropriations, taxation, banking, corporate activity, labor, criminal law, transportation, energy, census administration, overseas Filipinos, and local governance.

• 1982

  Barangay Election ActOther

  Background

  The legislature addressed the organization of elections for barangay-level local government units.

  Action taken

  Batas Pambansa Blg. 222 provided the statutory basis for barangay elections.

  Aftermath

  The act became part of the IBP’s local-governance and electoral legislation.

  Source

• 1980

  Enactment of the Corporation CodeOther

  Background

  The Philippine legal framework for corporations required a comprehensive statutory structure.

  Action taken

  Batas Pambansa Blg. 68 established the Corporation Code.

  Aftermath

  The code became a central part of the country’s corporate-law framework.

  Source

• 1979

  Adoption of the Anti-Bouncing Check LawOther

  Background

  The legislature addressed the legal and commercial consequences of issuing checks without sufficient funds.

  Action taken

  Batas Pambansa Blg. 22 established offenses and penalties associated with dishonored checks.

  Aftermath

  The law became one of the most recognizable statutes enacted during the IBP period.

  Source

• 1978

  Enactment of the General Appropriations Act of 1978Other

  Background

  The legislature established the national government’s appropriations framework through Batas Pambansa Blg. 1.

  Action taken

  It passed the General Appropriations Act of 1978.

  Aftermath

  The measure formed part of the IBP’s initial legislative program.

  Source

1. 1Interim Batasang Pambansaen.wikipedia.org