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


Shunning "divisive politics", Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte said on Wednesday, June 7 that improving the lives of Filipinos remains the top priority of the 300-strong House of Representatives. Villafuerte, a staunch backer of Speaker Martin Romualdez, gave huge credit to the House leader for setting the tone in the House during the first regular session of the 19th Congress and buying in to the administration’s message of "unity". According to the Bicolano, political discord would only put at risk the "superb level of cooperation and hard work" by the supermajority alliance in the legislature, which has helped President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. get ahead in his first year in office on his vision of a prosperous and peaceful Philippines. “Improving the lives of all Filipinos, as committed by President Marcos, is the priority in the House on the watch of Speaker Martin (Romualdez), in lieu of divisive politics, hence the need for greater unity,” said Villafuerte, who is National Unity Party (NUP) president and Commission on Appointments (CA) majority leader. He further said that "greater unity is crucial to sustaining the close working relationship of Malacañan Palace with the Congress, most especially with the House of Representatives". In less than a year's time, Villafuerte noted, the House was able to pass on third and final reading 33 of Marcos' 42 priority measures, as identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). During the sine die adjournment of the first regular session last May 31, Romualdez congratulated his House colleagues for being able to process a total of 9,600 measures composed of 8,490 bills; 1,109 resolutions; and one petition. Of these, 577 were passed. Romualdez, Leyte's 1st district representative, said the House had managed to process an average of 30 legislative measures per session day in the first regular session, or a tenth higher than the chamber’s output in the previous 18th Congress. “The House needs to stay the course on the President’s agenda of high and inclusive growth for the benefit of all our people, as most Filipinos are obviously aware of, and appreciate, the headway made by Mr. Marcos," Villafuerte said. “Only through greater unity under Speaker Martin can we remain true to our commitment to President’s legislative agenda to improve the lives of all Filipinos," he added.