SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday thanked his colleagues for their hard work and for their fidelity to their job, resulting in the record-breaking accomplishments of the House of Representatives during the First Regular Session of the 19th Congress.

“Each and every member of this august body truly deserves commendation for a job well done. Congratulations to all of us! When I assumed the post as your Speaker, I invited each one of you to support and join me in fulfilling the aspirations of the Filipino people. For readily heeding this call, I express my sincerest gratitude to everyone. Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat sa sipag na ipinakita ninyo at sa malasakit sa ating mamamayan,” Speaker Romualdez said.

“Sa pagbusisi ninyo sa bawat panukalang batas na ipinapasa natin, nakikita ng lahat na buhay ang demokrasya sa Kongreso,” he said.

The Speaker called back to his long-running message of unity, which has become the foundation of the Marcos administration.

“The unity that we have shown in the performance of duty, and our relentless action in keeping the legislative mill grinding to full efficiency, are now reaping fruits for our beloved institution. Public opinion on the performance rating of the House of Representatives is fast reaching an all-time high. Kinikilala ng ating mga kababayan ang pagkakaisa nating ipinapakita. Naniniwala sila na malaking bahagi ito kaya nagagampanan natin ang ating tungkulin,” Speaker Romualdez told his colleagues before Congress went on its sine die adjournment, which is the annual mandatory break before the next regular session.

Aside from doing its legislative duties, the Speaker said the House also performed its oversight function to find solutions to the country’s pressing problems, like the recent unwarranted increase in the price of onions.

He recalled that earlier this year, the House Committee on Agriculture conducted a motu proprio inquiry in aid of legislation to determine the root cause of the surge in the price of onions and other agricultural products and ascertain the appropriate government intervention to keep basic commodities affordable and accessible to everyone.

“We are also equally determined to recommend the prosecution of cartels and their cohorts, including all other profiteers, who continue to manipulate the supply and price of onion in the country,” he said.

He said due to the inquiry and work done by the committee on agriculture, the biggest onion cartel in the country has been dismantled and the price of the commodity has returned to its previous level.

“Dahil sa sipag ng ating committee on agriculture, nabuwag natin ang pinakamalaking kartel sa sibuyas at naibalik natin sa dating presyo ang bilihin nito,” Speaker Romualdez said.

The Speaker also thanked the other leaders of the House, including its Senior Deputy Speaker, Deputy Speakers, Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe, committee chairpersons and vice chairpersons, the secretariat, and all employees for the chamber’s record accomplishments.

“As we close the First Regular Session, I wish that you will remain steadfast in your duty. Let us take this time to reenergize, reflect and reinvigorate our passion for public service,” he said.

“Our nation deserves no less than our synergy and hard work. We have a lot of work ahead of us. By working together, we can help address these challenges and build a better future for our fellow Filipinos,” he said.

“Sa lahat ng empleyado ng House of Representatives, hindi namin magagawa and lahat ng to kung hindi dahil sa tulong at mga sakripisyo ninyo. Maraming salamat po,” Speaker Romualdez said.

The Speaker also expressed his gratitude to the political parties in the House for their commitment and cooperation in the approval of priority bills of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

Just a few days ago, the Romualdez-led Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) signed alliance agreements with each of seven national, local, and sectoral political groups in the House.

“I must also emphasize the importance of unity and cooperation among all our political parties. Pursuant to our shared vision of a strong republic, leaders of major political parties in this august halls have expressed their unwavering commitment to work together for the passage of the pro-people legislative agenda of President Marcos,” he said.

“When I assumed the post as your Speaker, I invited each one of you to support and join me in fulfilling the aspirations of the Filipino people. For readily heeding this call, I express my sincerest
gratitude to everyone. Maraming salamat sa inyong lahatsa sipag na ipinakita ninyo at sa malasakit sa ating mamamayan,” Speaker Romualdez said.

These groups are the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), National Unity Party (NUP), Nacionalista Party (NP), Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Party-list Coalition Foundation
Inc. (PCFI), Partido Navoteño, and Centrist Democratic Party of the Philippines (CDP).

Romualdez also highlighted in his speech the extra-curricular activities of the House earlier this year when it served as key backstop for President Marcos’ high-stakes trip to the United States (US).

“We also engaged, along with several House members, key congressional leaders of the United States of America to lay the groundwork for the official visit of his excellency, President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr…This initiative also helped generate billions of dollars in investment pledges which are expected to create thousands of jobs for our fellow kababayans,” he pointed out.