House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)

Speaker Martin Romualdez says the House of Representatives, under the Marcos administration, is intent on providing every household decent housing, quality jobs, and better education.

In his speech that marked the end of the second regular session of the 19th Congress on Wednesday, May 22, Romualdez said legislative actions have been taken to fulfill the aspirations of President Marcos for the Filipino people.

“Hindi tayo titigil sa trabaho hangga’t hindi natutupad ang pangarap ni Pangulong Marcos: ang mabigyan ng bahay ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino,” he said.

(We will not stop working until the dream of President Marcos is fulfilled: to give every Filipino family a house.)

Romualdez cited the overwhelming passage of House Bill (HB) No. 10172, or the “National Housing Authority Act”.

He said this bill further demonstrates the lower chamber’s “strong desire” to serve the underprivileged, homeless, and low-income households.

The House leader reported that HB No. 9506, or the “Rental Housing Subsidy Program Act,” was also recently approved. This measure seeks to establish a rental housing subsidy program for informal settler families to further ease their plight.

“These measures are crucial in providing immediate relief and long-term housing stability to those in need,” said Romualdez.

The Speaker said the House has also attended to bills that aim to increase employment opportunities and protect labor rights.

“Matibay po ang ating paniniwala. Kailangan natin ang mga investment para makalikha ng mga trabaho. At hindi basta lamang na trabaho. Trabaho na marangal at kayang bumuhay ng pamilya,” he said.

(Our belief is strong. We need investments to create jobs. And not just a job. Work that is honorable and can support a family.)

While he didn’t say it outright, Romualdez could be referring to the recent move of the lower chamber to pursue economic Charter change (Cha-cha) in a bid to accelerate the growth of foreign direct investments into the country.

The House’s version of this measure has already been approved, while the fate of the Senate version seems to be dim as new Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero has remained opposed to Cha-cha.

In the area of education, Romualdez said the House has passed HB No. 8210, or the “Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act,” to address and resolve the gap between current and expected learning competencies.

Also approved was HB No. 10142, or the “Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System Act,” which seeks to align early childhood care and development services with maternal, child health, and nutrition programs.

“Hindi lang natin tinitiyak ang libre at abot-kayang edukasyon para sa lahat. Sinisigurado natin na walang sagabal para makapagtapos ang mga estudyante natin sa kanilang pag-aaral,” Romualdez said.

(Not only do we ensure free and affordable education for all. We ensure that there are no obstacles for our students to complete their studies.)

The Speaker further cited several approved measures that aim to enhance the healthcare system and citizen welfare, social welfare, and renewable energy and environmental protection.

“All these legislative measures that we had approved are not merely words on paper; they embody our commitment to the welfare of every Filipino and reflect our dedication to creating a more just, prosperous, and dynamic society,” he said.

“Let us carry with us the understanding that our work is not just a responsibility but a noble privilege – a chance to uplift our fellow Filipinos, leave a lasting imprint on our society, and pave the way for a more prosperous tomorrow,” he told the House members.