Romualdez seeks stronger voice for Visayas through solons’ caucus

House Speaker Martin Romualdez in file photo. Screenshot from RTVM/LIVE

MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has convened the Visayas Caucus to bring together lawmakers from four regions so that people would have a greater voice in Congress.

In a statement on Thursday, Romualdez confirmed that he convened the Visayas Caucus on Wednesday, so that a unified voice would be heard in terms of national policymaking.

“This is more than a meeting of colleagues. It is a meeting of hearts united by the same roots, the same aspirations, and the same duty to serve our people. Each of us carries the hopes of our kababayans back home. The Visayas Caucus is our way of making sure their voices are heard and felt in the halls of Congress,” Romualdez said.

READ: Romualdez holds `listening session’ with Mindanao lawmakers

“Visayas is rich not only in natural resources, but also in terms of the people’s work ethic, intelligence, and strength through adversity. It is time for Visayas’ voice to be heard not only inside the plenary, but in every national decision made,” he added.

According to Romualdez, the caucus was established so that lawmakers from various political parties can still come together to push for legislation needed by different areas.

Lawmakers from Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and the Negros Island Region attended the meeting at the Social Hall of the Office of the Speaker, inside the Batasang Pambansa complex.

“In other words, in the four regions that we have identified, we really want to focus and concentrate on what are the top priorities per region. And you having placed me here in this position to serve you as the Speaker, I would like to actually deal with you, sit down with you and get these priority projects, programs moving faster,” he said.

`Very important and critical’

“And very important and critical that the synergies and engagements and the relationships of all of us in the region become closer and tighter. And I think we have so much in common to share. I was recently also in Mindanao about the other month and we talked about the Mindanao agenda. So similar to what we talked about when I was in Butuan, in Caraga, we’d like to get the Visayan agenda—hence the Visayas caucus,” he added.

Romualdez clarified that the Visayas Caucus is not a political bloc, but a means for lawmakers to put forward concerns from their constituents, and to push for “responsive policies, and secure funding for vital projects that directly benefit the Visayas.”

“Our goal is simple. We want a more resilient, more connected, and more empowered Visayas. This means building better roads and ports, bringing services closer to the islands, modernizing our farms, and making sure no Visayan is left behind in our nation’s progress,” the Speaker said.

“This is not politics — this is standing up for our regions. In this Caucus, each island has a voice, each community has a representative, and each dream has a chance to be fulfilled,” he added.

The following lawmakers have been appointed as officials for the caucus:

• Romualdez (lead convener)
• Deputy Speaker Janette Garin (regional chairperson for Western Visayas)
• Mandaue City Rep. Lolypop Ouano-Dizon (regional chairperson for Central Visayas)
• Tingog Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez (regional chairperson for Eastern Visayas)
• Negros Occidental 4th District Rep. Jeff Ferrer (regional chairperson for the Negros Island Region)
• Aklan 2nd District Rep. Joeben Miraflores (deputy chairperson)
• Cebu City 2nd District Rep. Edu Rama (deputy chairperson)
• Leyte 2nd District Rep. Lolita Javier (deputy chairperson)
• Negros Occidental 6th District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (deputy chairperson)

The Caucus is expected to create sectoral working groups and engage with key government agencies like the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to address issues.

“This is just the beginning,” Speaker Romualdez said. “What we have launched today is not merely a caucus—it is a commitment. A commitment to stand together, speak louder, and act faster for the future of the Visayas.”

This is not the first time that Romualdez met with lawmakers from an island group. Last July 14, Romualdez held consultative meetings with different lawmakers from Mindanao to make legislation more responsive and attuned to people’s needs.

Romualdez said that he and other House members met with lawmakers from the Caraga Administrative Region, Northern Mindanao, and Davao Region in Butuan City to discuss regional priorities and the national policy alignment under the Marcos administration’s legislative agenda.

READ: Martin Romualdez files bill seeking shift to cash-based budget system

At least 16 lawmakers from different political parties, like Lakas-CMD, which is headed by Romualdez, Nacionalista Party (NP), National Unity Party (NUP), Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), Liberal Party (LP), were present during the “listening session.”

Last July 10, Romualdez also met with neophyte and returning lawmakers for the 20th Congress, saying that the House will be even more productive with their presence.

Romualdez said that while the House in the 19th Congress was arguably the most productive version of the chamber, there is potential to exceed its accomplishments with a fresh batch of legislators. /mr