MANILA: Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Monday urged his colleagues to ride on the momentum of their significant achievements from the First and Second Regular Sessions of the 19th Congress to continue to build a brighter, more prosperous future for all Filipinos.
In his speech at the opening of the Third Regular Session, Romualdez noted with pride the legislative accomplishments of the House of Representatives, saying the positive impact of laws passed by the 19th Congress and signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is now being felt by Filipinos.
He pointed out that the House has approved all 17 priority measures mentioned by Marcos in his last SONA, five of which have been enacted into law: the LGU (local government unit) Income Classification (Republic Act 11964), the Ease of Paying Taxes Act (RA 11976), the Tatak Pinoy Law (RA 11981), the New Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 12009), and the Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming Act (RA 12010).
‘Lahat ng kailangang batas na hiniling ni Pangul
ong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa nakaraang State-of-the Nation Address, pasado na po lahat dito sa (All the needed laws requested by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his last SONA have all been passed here in the) House of Representatives,’ he told his colleagues.
‘We have done our homework. We addressed concerns on food security, climate change, social protection, tourism, public health, public order and safety, among others. In fact, the fruits of our overarching development agenda initiatives for the past two years are now slowly being felt across the nation,’ he said.
Romualdez said this was shown by the country’s economic performance in recent years.
From the third quarter of 2022 to the first quarter of 2024, the economy grew by an average of 6.1 percent. For the first quarter of 2024 alone, the Philippine economy outperformed Indonesia (5.1 percent), Malaysia (4.2 percent), Singapore (2.7 percent), and Thailand (1.5 percent), he said.
He noted that due to the Philippines’ continued economic expansio
n, respected credit rating firm Fitch Ratings affirmed last month the country’s investment-grade long-term foreign currency trading at ‘BBB’ rating with a stable outlook.
Romualdez said the House leadership was also active in fostering diplomatic relations and strategic partnerships with other countries, the latest being the June meeting with Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga of Japan and other Japanese lawmakers to enhance the defense and security cooperation between the Philippines and Japan.
The House, he said, has also been actively exercising its oversight functions to address pressing issues like the high prices of agricultural products, illegal drugs and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), among others.
‘Undoubtedly, the successful outcome of all our initiatives would not have been possible without the exceptional synchronization between the workings of the leaders of the House and our counterparts in the Senate,’ Romualdez said.
To ensure a seamless legislative flow, he said both Houses agree tha
t their priorities must align with the efforts of the administration of President Marcos and his ‘Agenda for Prosperity’ and the Bagong Pilipinas brand of governance.
‘We, at the House of Representatives, stand united with the President in his desire to advance these legislative initiatives that will shape the nation’s path forward. This is a time for unity, and we fully support the President,’ Romualdez stressed.
Romualdez emphasized that the House is committed to passing the remaining priority bills before the end of the Third Regular Session.
On June 25, the House and Senate leadership attended the Fifth Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting led by Marcos, where they committed to prioritize the passage of 28 bills under the common legislative agenda before the end of the 19th Congress.
Among the bills on the priority list are the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, Philippine Self-Reliant Defense Posture Program Act; Philippine Maritime Zones Act; Amendments to the Rig
ht-of-Way Act; Amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform or Epira; Create More Act; VAT on Digital Transactions; and the House proposal on the reforms in the Philippine capital markets.
The LEDAC also agreed to include the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act in the top priority list to strengthen the country’s sovereignty over its archipelagic waters and maritime resources.
Also included are the Amendments to the Foreign Investors’ Long-term Lease Act; Amendments to the Agrarian Reform Law; and Amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law.
‘We are ready and equally determined to ensure that these critical measures are enacted to support our nation’s progress and development,’ Romualdez said.
And while the third regular session may be the final stretch for some to offer and deliver what is most beneficial for their constituents, and signal another era for others to prove themselves worthy of another term, Romualdez said they are all gunning for the same outcome — victory, for the Filipino people, the nation, an
d the generations to come.
‘We continue to march toward that goal now. Rest not on our laurels, my dear colleagues. Our goal is to conclude the 19th Congress by upholding the principles of democracy, ushering in prosperity, and guiding a fair society. Let us give the Filipino people what they deserve, and they deserve more,’ he said.
Ready for SONA
During the opening of the session, the House approved several resolutions that will pave the way for Marcos’ historic SONA to the people at 4 p.m.
The Sinirangan Chamber Singers led the singing of the Philippine National Anthem, while a doxology followed as performed by the I Love Tacloban Quartet Singers.
A total of 262 members of the House attended the opening of the 3rd session of the 19th Congress.
The first order of business involved the consideration and adoption of House Resolution (HR) 1799, which informs the Senate that a quorum was present at the House and that it has entered upon the exercise of its functions. This was followed by the adoption of H
R 1800, informing President Marcos that the House has entered upon the exercise of its functions.
The Chamber also adopted the House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 27, which provided for the Senate and the House to hold a joint session to hear the message of the President in his SONA.
The House briefly suspended sessions to transmit to the Senate copies of the resolutions it just adopted and waited for its counterpart to adopt similar resolutions of its own.
After the Senate passed their resolutions, the House proceeded to consider and adopt Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 19, which creates a joint committee of both chambers to notify the President that the 19th Congress, now convened for its third regular session, was ready to hear SONA of the Chief Executive in joint session.
Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio ‘Dong’ Gonzales Jr. and Deputy Speakers David ‘Jay-jay’ Suarez, Yasser Alonto Balindong, Roberto Puno, Kristine Singson-Meehan, Camille Villar, Raymond Democrito Mendoza, Vincent Franco ‘Duke’ Frasco,
and Antonio ‘Tonypet’ Albano were appointed members of the joint notification committee.
The chamber suspended sessions to give way for the notification committee to inform the President of Congress’ readiness to receive the Chief Executive for his SONA.
After hearing the report of the notification committee, the House again suspended sessions and will convene at 4 p.m. to formally hear the President’s address to the people.
Source: Philippines News Agency
