With just two weeks left before the 19th Congress adjourns sine die, the House of Representatives is set to resume session today and act swiftly on remaining priority legislation, according to Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
“It’s time to finish the work we started. This is the final stretch of the 19th Congress, and we intend to make every day count,” Romualdez said on Sunday.
Among the measures scheduled for final reading are House Bill No. 10987, or the Anti-Offshore Gaming Operations Act, which seeks to outlaw Philippine offshore gaming operations and prohibit offshore gambling in the country, and HB 11359, or the Philippine Civil Registry Act, which updates the country’s outdated civil status registration system.
Other priority bills awaiting approval include HB 11430, the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act; HB 11395, the AICS Act, which institutionalizes emergency assistance for individuals in crisis; and HB 11400, which seeks to expand the benefits and privileges for senior citizens.
“We must act decisively on these bills. Each one directly impacts the lives of Filipinos—from community safety to the rights and benefits of our senior citizens,” Romualdez emphasized.
The Speaker stressed that the Anti-POGO bill, in particular, responds to growing concerns over crime, corruption, and national security risks allegedly associated with offshore gaming operations.
“We owe it to our people to close the loopholes being exploited by criminal syndicates,” he said, noting that the measure is an outcome of the House Quad Committee’s investigations.
Romualdez also highlighted the House’s legislative output during the 19th Congress. From July 25, 2022, to May 28, 2025, Congress processed 13,868 measures, including 11,506 bills and 2,361 resolutions. A total of 1,451 committee reports were filed, and 1,493 measures were approved on final reading—280 of which became Republic Acts (93 national and 187 local laws).
The Speaker reiterated the chamber’s support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s P20 per kilo rice program, saying the government has a moral obligation to ensure affordable rice is accessible to every Filipino household.
As the session draws to a close, Romualdez also urged his fellow lawmakers to remain vigilant in protecting democratic institutions, particularly in the digital space.
“Fake news, disinformation, and algorithmic manipulation are attacks on truth, democracy, and the Filipino mind. We must not allow them to spread unchecked,” he warned.
“In these final days of the 19th Congress, let us show that the House of the People stands for truth, justice, and order. We are the guardians of public trust,” he added. “We started strong, and we will end strong.”
Last Thursday, Romualdez announced that 27 out of 28 measures under the Common Legislative Agenda had been approved, as reported during the eighth meeting of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). Lawmakers from both chambers are aiming to complete action on the LEDAC bills before the third regular session ends.
The Speaker assured President Marcos that the House remains fully committed to passing legislation that improves the lives of Filipinos.
