MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said that the remaining session days of the 19th Congress’ second regular session would be dedicated to finding ways to ensure economic progress and boost national security.
In his speech during the resumption of session on Monday, Romualdez said that since the House has done its job regarding priority bills under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, the two topics will be the focus as these both play a role in ensuring prosperity.
“With this in mind, we must now direct our legislative focus on the most pressing needs that our countrymen face at the moment: strengthening national security and enhancing economic development,” Romualdez said.
“We recognize that peace is the cornerstone of prosperity, hence, we need to enact laws that fortify our national defense and enhance our international security posture. These initiatives are critical in maintaining sovereignty and stability, enabling our nation to pursue development goals without the shadow of external threat,” he added.
To do this, Romualdez mentioned several topics that respective House committees will discuss, like the supposed gentleman’s agreement between then president Rodrigo Duterte and China to maintain the status quo over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“In the exercise of our oversight powers, we will direct the appropriate House committee to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, to determine the adverse impact of such agreement on our national interests, particularly our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and territorial integrity,” he said.
“The so-called ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between former president […] Duterte and China on the non-supply of the BRP Sierra Madre grounded in Ayungin Shoal in the [WPS] is tantamount to the surrender of our country’s sovereign rights over our exclusive economic zone,” he added.
The recent cyberattacks against government sites, which led to a data leak in some occasions, will also be checked.
According to Romualdez, the House will support the President’s agenda especially in economic development and national security — two topics that were also addressed during the first-ever trilateral summit between the Philippines, the United States (US), and Japan last April 12.
The House and the Senate resumed session on Monday and will adjourn by May 24 — which means that excluding weekends, holidays, and Thursdays and Fridays, Congress has 11 session days before going on a sine die adjournment.
Both houses would convene by July 22 to open the third regular session of the 19th Congress, and then hear Marcos’ third State of the Nation Address by the afternoon.