Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri (left), House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)

Like an angry class adviser, House Speaker Martin Romualdez has told the country’s senators to "Get your act together and focus on your work." 

This, as Romualdez--in a rare display of frustration--called out the Senate on Friday, Jan. 26 for failing to act expeditiously on President Marcos' priority measures, unlike what the House of Representatives has done. 

"Hinihintay na lang natin yung mga kaibigan natin sa Senado, kung kailan nila tatapusin," Romualdez said in a press briefing. 

(We're just waiting on our friends in the Senate to finish their work.) 

"So let’s focus  on our work, get down to work, buckle down, there’s just 24 of you. Get your act together, focus. Focus on your work. And stop hitting on Congress [House] and maintain parliamentary courtesy. Lest 300 congressmen start picking on the delays you have caused to the nation in legislation," he said. 

The House chief was referring to priority legislation mentioned by President Marcos in his 2023 State of the Nation Address (SONA) as well as measures that had been identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). 

Although the House had pratically approved 100 percent of these measures "three to six months in advance", as per the Speaker, the proposed laws won't prosper without the Senate's action. 

"Kumbaga, wala kaming back subjects. Naghihintay lang kami kaya sana yung mga kaibigan namin sa Senado, imbes na kung anu-anong pinag-uusapan...eh tapusin na lang natin yung trabaho nila di ba, yung LEDAC, SONA priorities. Tapusin na lang yan. Tutukan na nila yung trabaho nila," he said. 

(We don't have any back subjects, so to speak. We're just waiting, that’s why we hope our friends in the Senate, instead if bringing up different things...they should just finish their work, the LEDAC, the SONA priorities. They should just finish it and focus on their work.) 

So exasperated was the Leyte 1st district congressman that he couldn't help but utter "Kadugay", which is Bisaya for "a long period of time". 

Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri would understand it since he knew Bisaya, Romualdez said. 

Romualdez also said that the senators have been "distracting" the public with topics like the People’s Initiative (PI) for Charter change (Cha-cha), which they have used as ammunition to assail the House.

ALSO READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/16/senate-s-surprising-pro-cha-cha-move-vindicates-house-dalipe

"Para sa bayan. Paligoy-ligoy pa kayo eh. Dini--distract mo yung bayan eh. Tapusin niyo muna trabaho niyo," he said. 

(This is for the country. You're beating around the bush. You're distracting the country. Finish your work first.) 

"Tapos na lahat ng assignments natin. Yung [mga] senador, hindi pa tapos. Tapusin niyo trabaho niyo. Naghihintay na ang mga Pilipino. Wala kaming pakialam sa PI. Yung PI trabaho na yan ng taumbayan...PI hindi yan legislation," said Romualdez, who is arguably President Marcos' top ally in the bicameral legislature. 

(We're done with all our assignments. The senators, not yet. Finish your work. The Filipinos are waiting. We don't care about PI. The PI is the task of the people...that is not legislation.)