House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)

The House of Representatives under Speaker Martin Romuladez has proven to be a "pivotal partner" of the Marcos administration based on its legislative performance in the current 19th  Congress, according to three congressmen from Camarines Sur. 

“Because of his decisive, result-oriented leadership, Speaker Martin [Romualdez] has managed to shepherd through the 300-plus strong House this early the final approval of all of the President’s priority bills for the year—three months ahead of schedule,” said Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte. 

Echoing his opinion were Reps. Migz Villafuerte and Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata, who are also from Camarines sur. 

“The House has certainly been a highly productive legislative chamber on the Romualdez watch, crafting a substantial number of social protection measures in support of the commitment of President Marcos not to leave any Filipino behind in his administration’s quest for a peaceful and prosperous nation,” said the former. 

The latter, for his part, said that under the Speaker’s leadership, "The bigger chamber has likewise passed a substantial number of measures meant to further stimulate the economy post-pandemic, and create more jobs and livelihood opportunities in step with the Marcos administration’s goal of inclusive high growth.” 

Villafuerte and his provincemate-solons hailed Romualdez for the earlier-than-expected passage in the chamber of all 20 priority bills targeted for approval by the President and the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) by end of December 2023, along with the Speaker’s active participation in President Marcos’ successful investment missions overseas. 

Villafuerte, president of the National Unity Party (NUP), said these actions have “transformed the House into a pivotal partner of this administration in its agenda for keeping our post-pandemic economy on a high-growth track to ensure more jobs and better living standards for Filipinos". 

Pointing to the report of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Villafuerte said that all of the President’s investment trips abroad since he assumed office last year, and which the Speaker had participated in, have generated a combined P 1.4 trillion in approved investment.   

The Bicolano said this immense amount would translate into quality jobs for our people and greater economic activity nationwide that could sustain our country’s growth momentum.      

The three lawmakers also cited Romualdez for his notable steps in easing inflation, which has posed risks to the country’s growth momentum and eroded the spending power especially of ordinary Filipinos. 

Villafuerte recalled that Romualdez looked after Filipino consumers by holding meetings with oil industry players on taming the continuous price hikes of gasoline and diesel, and spearheading inspections of rice warehouses with the end goal of helping the government run after hoarders and profiteers responsible for the price spikes on the staple grain.