For allowing minority bloc to perform mandate as fiscalizers of House

HOUSE Minority Leader and Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano has expressed gratitude to House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez for allowing them to effectively perform their mandate as fiscalizers of the House of Representatives.

Paduano thanked Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules, for giving importance and priority to their advocacies during the Second Regular Session of the 18th Congress.

“I also would like to extend my gratitude to the Majority Floor Leader Martin Romualdez for being true to his words that as a tradition in the House, the minority is always the priority. Thank you for that sir,” Paduano said during late Wednesday night session shortly before the House of Representatives adjourned sine die.

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco credited the hard-working Romualdez in shepherding the passage of pro-people priority legislations under the Duterte administration that cater to the needs of the welfare of the people especially in these challenging and difficult times.

“To our Deputy Speakers, to our Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, Minority Leader Caraps Paduano and the members of the Committee on Rules, and to all our committee chairpersons, you all deserve a special shout out,” Velasco said in his separate speech.

Paduano also expressed gratitude to his colleagues and Velasco for exercising a leadership that is fair and just to all members of the House of Representatives.

“For the members of the Majority, we thank you for your patients and understanding and more importantly for the opportunity to fulfill the mandate of the Minority as fiscalizers and for critical collaboration resulting to the best version of the proposed measures,” Paduano stressed.

“Finally, with great pride, I would like to thank and congratulate Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco for treating the Minority as co-equal, for respecting our privileges as representatives of the people and indeed as partners for change,” he said.

Velasco also thanked the huge contributions of House Secretary General Mark Llandro “Dong” Mendoza, a former Batangas congressman, House officials, secretariat and other employees in passing vital pieces of legislations under his leadership.

“To Secretary General Dong, all the DSGs (Deputy Secretary General), secretariat and congressional staff and employees thank you for allowing us to perform the best public service to our people,” Velasco said.

During House sessions, some of the notable hardworking House officials include Deputy Secretary General for Operations Atty. David Robert “Dave” Amorin, House committee on rules Director IV Jennifer “Jef” Baquiran, and House committee on rules secretary Mr. Joven C. Marcelang.

“All these accomplishments are our collective achievements bound by a spirit of unity let us now move forward and meet the new challenges as they confront us every knowing that the work we do today we do for our people,” Velasco said.

“It is my hope that the positive reforms that we have started in the 18th Congress continue with eagle eyed vision and determination let us all remain vigilant and committed to serve our people. Naniniwala ako na tulad ng agila tatatag, tataas at lilipad tayo ng sabay-sabay sa mga susunod na araw,” Velasco said.