The House of Representatives is on track to finish the 19th Congress with a near-perfect record in fulfilling its legislative commitments under the Common Legislative Agenda (CLA), and lawmakers across the political spectrum have credited the focused and steady leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez for this achievement.
House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V of La Union on Friday said members of the House are not only closing the 19th Congress strong, but also preparing for a smooth opening of the 20th Congress under the continued speakership of Romualdez.
“We discussed admin matters and the record of the House under the leadership of Speaker Romualdez is not only near-perfect, it is historic. We have proven the caliber of the Speaker’s leadership,” Ortega said.
“That’s why we’re seeing overwhelming support across party lines: 280 out of 285 lawmakers who expressed support for his speakership have already signed a manifesto backing him as Speaker for the 20th Congress,” he added.
Ortega noted that during a House leadership meeting on Thursday, attended by members of all major political parties, Romualdez emphasized the institution’s high rate of legislative accomplishment, particularly the passage of 27 out of 28 Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council’s (LEDAC) CLA targeted for approval by the end of the 3rd Regular Session.
The House also already acted on and approved 61 out of the 64 legislative measures identified in the CLA and endorsed by LEDAC.
“These numbers reflect our dedication to delivering real reforms that matter to Filipinos. And we were able to do it all because of the persistence of Speaker Romualdez. To be honest, we were really infected by his hard work. All of us, want to finish the work immediately,” Ortega said.
Leaders of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), Nacionalista Party (NP), National Unity Party (NUP), Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), and the Party-list Coalition Foundation, Inc. (PCFI) attended the leadership meeting.
As reported in the 8th LEDAC meeting, 12 of the 27 measures have already been signed into law, including the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act, Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, VAT on Digital Transactions and the Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act.
The New Government Procurement Reform Act, Philippine Maritime Zones Act, Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program Act, Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act and amendments to the Agricultural Tariffication Act are among the others that have become law.
Meanwhile, the proposed amendments to the EPIRA law have lapsed into law as of April 18, and the Capital Markets Promotion Act was sent to the Office of the President on April 29.
Pending bicameral conference committee deliberation are measures such as the Blue Economy Act, amendments to the Universal Health Care Act, Open Access in Data Transmission Act, E-Governance Act, Rationalization of Mining Fiscal Regime and amendments to the Foreign Investors’ Long Term Lease provisions.
Bills like the National Water Resources Act, National Citizens Service Training Program Act, Right-of-Way Act amendments, Single-use Plastic Bags Tax Act, Water Treatment Technology Act, Revised Government Auditing Act, Immigration Modernization Act, and the Military and Uniformed Personnel Pension System Act have already passed third reading in the House and are awaiting Senate action.
“From day one, our goal was clear: to build a legislative foundation for a Bagong Pilipinas. And under Speaker Romualdez’s guidance, we’ve done just that – efficiently and decisively,” Ortega added.
He said the one remaining CLA measure awaiting House approval is the proposed amendments to the Agrarian Reform Law, which is expected to be addressed upon the resumption of session.
From the total 64 LEDAC measures since the 19th Congress opened, the House has acted on 61, with only three – the National Defense Act, the Budget Modernization bill and the Agrarian Reform Law amendments – remaining in the pipeline.
“We are just focused on the results… What we have passed are real reforms that will help millions of Filipinos. So, in sum, we have done our jobs, we have passed what was asked of us, we delivered,” Ortega said.
