House to help communities bounce back better after typhoons

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives is ready to assist in rebuilding communities affected by successive typhoons and to help make them more resilient to future calamities, Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III said on Tuesday.

In his speech during the resumption of Congress’ session, Dy assured victims of Typhoon Tino and Super Typhoon Uwan that they are in lawmakers’ prayers and that the House will help them recover.

“Before everything else, we extend our deepest condolences to the families severely affected by the successive calamities across the country. We are with you in prayer for your swift recovery. The entire Congress is ready to work with your representatives to provide immediate assistance to all those in need,” he said in Filipino.

“We are also maintaining close coordination with government agencies and local officials to deliver aid, accelerate rehabilitation, and ensure stronger preparedness for future disasters,” he added.

According to Dy, he understands that some House members were not present during the plenary session — which is only right, as people need their leaders most before, during, and after a calamity.

“Amid every storm, we are reminded that public service is not only about making laws, but also about showing compassion, taking action, and giving new hope,” Dy said in Filipino.

“I understand that some of our colleagues are not here today because they are attending to the needs of their constituencies. It is only proper to demonstrate dedication to service in times of adversity,” he added.

Uwan barreled through large parts of Luzon and Visayas over the weekend. At its peak, Uwan carried maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 230 kph.

Coupled with its wide diameter, the typhoon prompted the evacuation of over one million people from disaster-prone areas.

READ: Almost 1 million evacuated as Uwan slams Luzon 

Uwan struck just days after Tino affected Visayas and northern parts of Mindanao. 

As of Tuesday morning, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said that 232 individuals have died due to Tino, while 112 remain missing. Another 25 were confirmed dead due to Uwan.

READ: Typhoon Tino death toll hits 232; 112 missing, 532 injured – NDRRMC 

Due to the extensive damage and impact, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. placed the country under a state of calamity for one year.

Aside from aiding communities affected by the two typhoons, Dy said the House will now focus on other legislation, following the passage of the budget bill — the 2026 General Appropriations Bill.

“Now that we have completed the first step and fulfilled our duty to pass the national budget, we can focus our full efforts on enacting other important laws that will strengthen our economy, reinforce our institutions, support the swift recovery of affected areas, and bolster the trust of our people,” he said.

Dy added that part of the House’s focus during the resumption of sessions will be discussions on proposals to institutionalize the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, which is investigating anomalies in flood control projects.

READ: Dy vows to focus on next measures, like anti-political dynasty bill 

Dy also talked about a proposed Anti-Political Dynasty bill, which he said will be in fulfillment of 1987 Constitution provisions stating that Congress should define what a political dynasty is. /mcm