House Speaker Martin Romualdez (left), Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte (Speaker’s office, Facebook)

Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte has commended Speaker Martin Romualdez for his “remarkable role” in guiding the House of Representatives toward the passage of priority bills identified by President Marcos. 

“The House has been productive and efficient more than ever, passing in record time most of the priority measures endorsed by President Marcos in his SONA (State of the Nation Address) and by LEDAC (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council),” Villafuerte said in a statement on Sunday, Dec. 24. 

“Under the very able leadership of the Speaker, the House has passed a sizable number of proposed laws meant to bring the Marcos administration closer to the President’s paramount goal of high and inclusive growth for Filipinos by way of accelerating poverty reduction, turbocharging the economy, and generating more and better jobs and livelihood opportunities for all,” he explained. 

Villafuerte, who has either authored or co-authored 23 priority bills, said the substantial number of new legislative measures acted upon by the lower chamber was the Christmas gift of the Speaker and the House members to the Filipino people. 

“Speaker Martin has traced the superb performance of the House of Representatives this year to the continued unity and cooperation of all of us in the bigger chamber in serving the highest interest of the Filipino people,” he said. 

Citing House records, Villafuerte said that over 600 House bills (HBs) have been passed. These are now awaiting action by the Senate. 

This translates to an average of 28 legislative measures for each of the 121 session days so far in the 19th Congress.

Of these approved bills, 34 have become laws, seven more have been ratified by both chambers and awaiting approval by the President, and another five are being deliberated upon by their respective Bicameral Conference Committees for eventual ratification by the Senate and the House. 

The new laws include the establishment of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), debt condonation of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries, extension of the period of availment of estate tax amnesty, and the protection and welfare of caregivers 

Villafuerte, president of the National Unity of the Philippines (NUP), has expressed the desire of his 45-member bloc to remain fully supportive of the Speaker and of the legislative agenda of President Marcos. 

NUP is among the major political groups in the House. The Romualdez-led Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) is currently the largest party in the chamber.