House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Speaker Martin Romualdez has guaranteed swift action from the House regarding the legislative priorities that President Marcos is expected to outline in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22. 

“We are prepared to hit the ground running and deliver on our promises to the public," Romualdez, arguably Marcos' top ally in the legislature, said in a statement Sunday, July 21. 

"The SONA will set the tone for our legislative agenda, and we are more than ready to take the necessary actions to achieve our shared vision for a better Philippines,” he said. 

That the President's annual speech is traditionally held at the House of Representatives' home turf in Batasang Pambansa Complex makes Romualdez and his fellow congressmen anticipate the event even more. 

"The President’s SONA will provide a clear roadmap, and the House is prepared to translate this vision into tangible legislative outcomes," said the leader of the 300-plus-strong chamber. 

Speaker Romualdez called on all members of Congress--the House and the Senate--to unite in support of the President’s agenda, as he emphasized the importance of collective action. 

“As representatives of the people, it is our duty to work together, transcending political differences, to enact laws that will uplift the lives of our fellow Filipinos. The upcoming SONA will inspire and guide us in this noble endeavor," said the Leyte 1st district congressman.  

The President’s SONA coincides with the opening of the third and last regular session of the 19th Congress. It will be delivered before a joint session of Congress. 

The third regular session represents one full year of work, but things are expected to slow down in the legislature once the election bug bites. This makes "hit the ground running" all the more crucial for the solons if want something to show for themselves. 

The filing  of the certificates of candidacy (COC) for the 2025 mid-term elections begins in October this year. 

Last week, Romualdez vowed to prioritize the passage of the 2025 national budget and the remaining Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) priority bills. 

BUT FIRST, READ THIS: 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/20/3rd-sona-presents-perfect-timing-for-the-president-to-announce-policy-statements-and-legislative-directions 

He said the House eagerly awaits the executive branch's proposed P6.352-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP), which will form the basis for the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), and aims to pass it before the end of September. 

The 2025 national budget, which represents a 10-percent increase from this year’s P5.768-trillion allocation, is equivalent to 22 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). 

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is expected to submit the 2025 NEP to House of Representatives on July 29, following its review by the full Cabinet. 

Under the 1987 Constitution, the NEP must be submitted to the House of Representatives within 30 days after the SONA. Once approved, it becomes the GAB, and then the General Appropriations Act (GAA) when signed into law by the President. 

Since the start of the 19th Congress in July 2022, the House has shown impressive legislative output with over 12,000 measures filed and 77 bills enacted into law. 

Romualdez also reaffirmed the House's commitment to passing the remaining three of the 28 LEDAC bills targeted for approval before the end of the 19th Congress. These are the proposed amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), the Agrarian Reform Law, and the Foreign Investors’ Long-Term Lease Act.