By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez

The entry of 32 new party-list congressmen in the House of Representatives has given Speaker Prospero Nograles and House Secretary General Marilyn Barua-Yap a headache on where to accommodate them and their staff.

Of course, the bigger problem is money, estimated by Nograles to reach about P200 million for the salaries and staff and daily operations of the new congressional offices, which he said was not in the House budget for 2009.

Each House member is also entitled to P70 million in pork barrel.

Nograles said he will talk with Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. to help him find a way out of this dilemma.

With the P700-million south wing annex building still being constructed and won’t be ready until the end of the year, Nograles has raised the idea of a room-sharing scheme among some of the lawmakers, a proposal greeted with cheers and jeers by House members.

Gabriela party-list Representative Liza Maza said she is willing to share her room with Mong Palatino of the Kabataan party list.

Rep. Risa Hontiveros of Akbayan party list said she has yet to receive word on her request for Professor Walden Bello, the other Akbayan congressman, to use the extension of either deputy speaker Raul Del Mar and Pablo Garcia as his office.

Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo said his office can accommodate temporarily another lawmaker, saying, “it would be an opportunity to learn from each other.”

Arroyo’s aunt, Lourdes, is coming in as the fourth Arroyo in the House representing the Kasangga party list.

Nueva Ecija Rep. Eduardo Nonato Joson said room-sharing “might be out of the question” since the rooms of lawmakers are already cramped. Instead, he proposed rental of office spaces near the Batasan complex for the 32 new members.

And in jest, he said, “Paano kung Ladlad iyong party list?” referring to the group of Filipino lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT).