In helping PBBM, Filipinos: Wala tayong backlog

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday declared that the House of Representatives has accomplished its task of helping President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. and Filipinos in general.

In remarks before the House adjourned its session for its Holy Week recess, the leader of the 300-plus-strong larger chamber of Congress took pride in reporting to his colleagues 100-percent approval ahead of time of priority bills identified by the President in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July last year and by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), aside from doing oversight function.

“We have done our homework. Our accomplishments reflect our proactive stance in catering to the needs of the people by passing these much-needed legislation that are attuned to the Philippine Development Plan and the 8-point socio-economic agenda under the medium-term fiscal framework of His Excellency, President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.,” he said.

“Wala po tayong backlog sa trabaho. Tapos natin ang mga napagkasunduang assignment bago pa man dumating ang deadline. Ang grado natin sa LEDAC: 100 percent. Lahat nang ito, dahil sa pagkakaisa natin, sa sipag ninyong lahat, at sa malasakit na ipinakita ninyo sa trabaho at sa mamamayan,” he said.

He said the House accomplishments “underscore our unwavering resolve to uplift and honor every segment of our society, from the valiant seafarers navigating the high seas to our esteemed centenarians who have weathered the tides of time, and make the application process for regular passports readily accessible to every Filipino.”

“By God’s grace, all of our efforts towards the betterment of our country and the Filipino people will soon come to fruition,” he added.

“Together, we have transformed vision into action, and for that, you have my deepest appreciation,” the Speaker stressed, thanking House leaders and his colleagues, including those in the minority, and the secretariat for the chamber’s “impressive performance.”

In terms of legislative output, Speaker Romualdez reported “significant milestones” with several bills having been signed into law by the President, including Republic Act No. 11981 or the Tatak Pinoy Act; RA 11982, the Centenarians Act; RA 1193, the New Philippine Passport Act; the ‘No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act; and RA 11985, or the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act.

He said the law banning the “no permit, no exam” practice of schools “is a testament to our dedication to break down barriers to education and ensure that every Filipino student is granted the opportunity to succeed irrespective of their financial circumstances.”

On the other hand, the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act aims “to create more jobs in the countryside and coastal communities” and make the country “become salt self-sufficient, and eventually a net exporter of salt.”

The House leader informed his colleagues that during its full meeting on Tuesday, the National Economic and Development Authority, as LEDAC secretariat, presented a “re-prioritized” list of 15 measures, down from 23 proposed by the LEDAC technical working group.

He recalled that after some discussion, the House and the Senate and President Marcos decided on a total of 19 measures targeted for passage by June this year.

“I am honored to say that whether the new list of target by June 2024 contained 15, 19, or 23 priority bills, the results are the same: on the part of the House of Representatives, an awe-inspiring 100-percent mark – all of these measures have been approved on third and final reading, again three months ahead of schedule,” he said.

The Speaker also mentioned the exercise by the House of its oversight function through inquiries in aid of legislation, which he said “have been pivotal in safeguarding the integrity of government institutions and the welfare of our people.”

“These inquiries are the bedrock of accountability and transparency within our government,” he said.

He cited the joint inquiry by the committee on ways and means, committee on senior citizens and special committee on persons with disabilities on gaps in the implementation of laws and polices that provide discounts, incentives and tax exemptions for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

Among other recommendations, the three committees have endorsed the harmonization of PWDs and senior citizen benefits, discount eligibility during promotional sales, and senior citizen and PWD programs and projects using the national tax allotment.

“Dahil sa aksyong ito ng mga komite at pagbabantay ng Kongreso, naitaas natin ang discount sa grocery ng ating mga senior citizen at person with disability. Sa mga susunod na araw, itataas ang kanilang discount mula P260 tungo sa P500 kada buwan,” Speaker Romualdez said.

He said the committee on health has been pushing Philhealth to provide more meaningful benefits Filipinos needing medical care under the Universal Health Care Law.

“Naitaas natin ang benefit package para sa breast cancer patients mula P100,000 tungo sa P1.4 million. Nagawa rin nating mai-libre ang mammogram at ultrasound exam para sa lahat ng kababaihang Pilipino para mai-ligtas sila sa sakit na kanser,” he said.

“Moreover, we have taken the lead in constructing the Philippine Cancer Center, an advanced facility designed to serve as a place of healing and optimism. This center seeks to revolutionize cancer care in the country by incorporating the latest medical innovations and promoting collaboration among specialists to offer a top-tier setting for individuals battling cancer,” he added.

The Speaker cited another example of a House inquiry achieving positive results: the request by the committee on transportation for the President to extend the deadline for jeepney consolidation which lapsed on December 31, 2023, until concrete plans to address the major issues in the program are formulated.

“Pinagbigyan naman tayo ng Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa pakiusap na ito at nagpapasalamat tayo sa kanya sa pagdinig sa ating hiling. Umaasa tayo na magiging sapat ang extension na naibigay para masigurong hindi mawawalan ng trabaho ang libo-libong jeepney drivers na naapektuhan ng programang ito,” he said.

He also justified the hearings conducted by the committee on legislative franchises on alleged violations by Sonshine Media Network International of the broadcasting privilege Congress had given it, and the panel’s recommendation to cancel it.

“This decisive action underscores our commitment to uphold the integrity of broadcasting standards and the public’s trust…Tinutupad lamang po natin ang mandatong ini-atang sa atin ng Konstitusyon at ng taong bayan. Walang personalan dito. Trabaho lang,” he said.

Finally, Speaker Romualdez’s remarks touched on Resolution of Both Houses No. 7.

He said through the resolution “proposing crucial amendments to certain restrictive economic provisions within the 1987 Constitution that have, until now, hampered our full economic potential, we have paved the way and created a turning point for our nation…a resolution poised to catalyze a new era of economic vitality and competitiveness for the Philippines.”

He said the proposed insertion of “unless otherwise provided by law” into these provisions “is a clear testament to our readiness to adapt to the dynamic global economy, ensuring that our legislative framework can swiftly respond to changing economic conditions while steadfastly safeguarding our national interests.”

“With the approval of RBH 7 on third and final reading, and its subsequent transmission to the Senate, we stand on the cusp of realizing a more open and robust economy. This is more than just an economic imperative; it is a clarion call to action that resonates with the aspirations of the Filipino people for a more prosperous and secure future,” he said.

“Malinaw ang panawagan ng ating mamamayan. Kailangan nila ng mas maraming trabaho. Posible lamang ito kung maraming negosyong papasok sa ating bansa,” he added.

“Kailangan din nating buksan ang ating ekonomiya para mas lalong maging matibay at matatag ito sa hamong ng makabagong panahon. Obligasyon natin ito sa ating mga anak at sa susunod na henerasyon,” the House leader stressed.

He pointed out that on the global stage, “we stand resolute behind the president’s foreign policy initiatives to fortify bilateral relations and uphold sovereignty and territorial integrity, particularly concerning the West Philippine Sea dispute.”

In the spirit of the Lenten season, Speaker Romualdez urged his colleagues to “strive toward a closer alignment with the virtues that epitomize the best of our existence.”

He quoted Pope Francis: “Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy.”

“Let us harness this season to reignite our passion for service and recommit to the cause of our nation and its people. Once again, I extend my profound gratitude to all members of this House for your unwavering dedication and service to our nation,” he said.

“Together, we have forged significant progress, and I stand confident that, united in purpose and action, we will continue to chart a course toward a new Philippines – one that is robust, equitable, and prosperous for all Filipinos,” he added.