FILE PHOTO: House Speaker Martin Romualdez | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez assured the public that politics won’t affect legislative work at the House of Representatives.
Romualdez, in a video statement released by his office on Monday, said the lower chamber will remain focused on approving critical bills that will ensure continued progress for the country despite the upcoming midterm elections in May 2025.
The House is set to resume its session on Monday, July 22, before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his third State of the Nation Address (Sona). This session is the third and final regular session of the 19th Congress.
“We are committed to maintaining legislative momentum despite the approaching national elections in 2025,” Romualdez said.
“Our priority is to ensure that critical bills are passed and that the legislative process continues to serve the people’s needs effectively. We will navigate the political landscape with a focus on stability and progress,” he added.
READ: House to pass 3 remaining Ledac bills before 19th Congress ends
Romualdez said the House’s current top priority is the passage of the 2025 national budget. It is followed by the three remaining Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) priority bills.
“On the part of the House of Representatives, the passage of the 2025 P6.352-trillion national budget before the October break is our top priority,” he said.
“Regarding LEDAC, the House already approved 25 out of 28 measures. The House of Representatives will approve the remaining three of the 28 LEDAC bills before the end of the 19th Congress,” he added.
The three remaining Ledac bills are the following:
- Proposed amendments to the Foreign Investors’ Long-Term Lease Act
- Proposed amendments to the Agrarian Reform Law
- Proposed amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act
Romualdez also said House legislators anticipate a “strong collaborative” relation with the upper chamber, with Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero at the helm.
READ: House backs ‘unity agenda’
“We anticipate a strong collaborative relationship with the new Senate leadership under Senate President Chiz Escudero. This partnership is crucial for the smooth passage of pending legislation. We are confident that our cooperative efforts will lead to the successful enactment of key legislative measures,” the House leader said.
Romualdez is not running for the Senate in 2025, as he revealed last June 26 that he will seek reelection as Leyte’s 3rd District representative.
However, the Speaker and other political party leaders in the House are expected to become busy in the months to come as they field their Senate slates. Last May 8, Romualdez’s Lakas-CMD and President Marcos Jr.’s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) signed an alliance agreement for the 2025 midterm election.