THE House of Representatives last night unanimously adopted a resolution commending Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez for “his exceptional, reformative and effective leadership” during the first
regular session of the 19th Congress.

The chamber approved Houdse Resolution (HR) No. 1055 authored by Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe and Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan shortly before the legislature went on its annual sine die adjournment.

The Speaker, “with his resolute diligence and remarkable confidence…triumphantly reinforced the principles and ideals of representative democracy and effectively carried out the functions of his office to lead and motivate into action all members of the House of Representatives during the First Regular Session,” the resolution stated.

It said the House leader “devoted careful attention to the processes of the legislature without fear or favor, adhered to the rules for respectful but insightful participatory discussions, and served as the champion of the members who effectively echoed the voice of their constituents.”

The resolution noted that during the First Regular Session, the House adopted 91 resolutions and approved on third and final ready 447 measures which are currently pending action by the Senate, 123 of which are national bills.

Of the measures passed on third reading, six have been enacted into law, including Republic Act No. 11934 (Subscriber Identity Module Registration Act), Republic Act No. 11936 or the 2023 General Appropriations Act or national budget, and Republic Act No. 11937, which introduced amendments in the law fixing the tenure of the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff and certain high-ranking offices, which changes the Speaker said would provide “additional room for professionalization” of members of the military.

Another bill, which seeks to condone the unpaid loans, interest and penalties of thousands of agrarian reform beneficiaries, has been sent to Malacañang for the President’s signing into law.

The resolution also took note of the third-reading approval of 33 of the 42 priority measures of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), which aim to promote economic recovery, reduce poverty, provide better health care services, and enhance the delivery of public service.

The 33 approved bills include Ease of Paying Taxes Act, Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act, Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act, Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery Act, Maharlika Investment Fund Act, 30-year National Infrastructure Program Act, Public-Private Partnership Act, National Land Use Act, Tax Amnesty Act, Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, Internet Transaction Act, Philippine Passport Act, Speciality Centers in Hospitals, Bureau of Immigration Modernization Act, National Government Rightsizing Program, and Philippine Salt Industry Development Act.

The resolution also noted that the House processed an average of 30 measures per session during the First Regular Session, which saw the filing of 8,426 bills and 1,089 resolutions, 567 of which were approved.

It credited Speaker Romualdez for introducing “E-Congress,” a digital collaboration of the House and the Senate to “to provide a platform for knowledge and the exchange of information between the two chambers and encourage citizen participation in law making.”

It likewise cited the Speaker’s efforts “to make the Philippines globally competitive and attuned to the changing times” by initiating reforms in the economic provisions of the Constitution and steering the approval of Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 and House Bill (HB) No. 7352, or the Constitutional Convention Act.

Additionally, the resolution took notice of the House response to the public outcry against the increase in the prices of onions through a legislative inquiry on anti-competitive prices and cartel in the onion industry, as well as the designation in the House of a prayer room for Muslim House members and employees.

“Consistent with his innate compassion toward improving the plight of the disadvantaged and vulnerable, Speaker Romualdez, through his focused, purpose-driven and uncompromising leadership, steered the House of Representatives to respond to the call of small entrepreneurs, workers, women, students and teachers, health care workers and uniformed personnel,” the measure stated.

“Speaker Romualdez deserves the highest praise and appreciation for the impressive roster of achievements presented by the House of Representatives during the First Regular Session of the Nineteenth  Congress, which is a testament to his outstanding leadership, integrity, patriotism, and sense of commitment,” it concluded.