It is not true that members of the House of Representatives are hardly working.

They are, in fact, a hard-working lot.

However, the quality and relevance of their legislative output are different matters altogether.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has bared a congressional “done list” and thanked his House colleagues for their contributions to the accomplishments of the chamber and to the strengthening of democracy in the country.

In his message to lawmakers at the closing of the session for the Christmas break, Belmonte said both administration and op position lawmakers have been instrumental in the passage of vital legislation and promoting healthy discussions in the House.

You be the judge in sizing up the performance of the House members as summarized by Belmonte:

* approved on final reading a total of 46 national bills since the start of the second regular session of Congress in July;

* passed nine Republic Acts in the first half of the second regular session, and ratified two bicameral reports, including the P1.8-trillion General Appropriations Act for 2012;

* passed from July to December on final reading 46 national bills, 205 local bills, and two joint resolutions. The chamber also adopted three Concurrent Resolutions, 76 Regular Resolutions, and 48 Reports on Resolutions on Inquiries; and

* acted on 2,328 measures since the opening of the 15th Congress and until Dec. 7, 2011; Belmonte said the House has acted on 2,328 measures.

“Our performance in the past year and a half inspire confidence that we, individually as representatives of our constituents and collectively as members of this institution, can be relied on to uphold our statesmanship amidst intense partisan pressure; that we will never let our differences in opinion and beliefs enfeeble our drive to fulfill our common duty and remain loyal to the Filipino people and nation,” a major broadsheet quoted Belmonte as saying.

“This accomplishment is the result of our hard work and perseverance - of our deputy speakers, majority and minority leaders, committee chairmen and members, and every honorable man and woman of this chamber. It was achieved notwithstanding a healthy difference in our opinions and vigorous debate in our committees, in the plenary, and in the public at large,” he said.

Belmote also rallied his colleagues in the chamber to rise above partisan politics and immerse themselves in urgent legislative work after their impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

He said lawmakers have differing views on Corona’s impeachment but stressed that “statesmanship amidst intense partisan pressure” should be above the situation.

He said the reform process is not easy but House members must remain steadfast and focused on contributing to the task to include approving important socio-economic and anti-corruption measures.

“Undoubtedly, we are navigating a stormy sea in our voyage towards rebuilding our nation and our institutions. Overcoming this tempest requires from each of us a matured and disciplined engagement, for us to canalize our differences in affiliation and ideology within the means and processes provided for in the Constitution,” Belmonte said.