A handful of congressmen suffered heartbreaking defeats during the recent mid-term elections. But thanks to House Speaker Martin Romualdez's soothing words, they can hold their heads up high, and move on.
In his speech during the resumption of plenary sessions Monday, June 2, Romualdez addressed the members of the House of Representatives who were no longer returning to the 20th Congress.
This could either refer to solons who lost in the May 12 polls, or those who have completed three three-year terms in the lower chamber.
“To those who prevailed — congratulations. The people have placed their trust in you once again. Carry that trust with honor, humility, and courage. Use your renewed mandate to fight even harder for their needs, for their hopes, and for a future where no Filipino is left behind," the Speaker said in plenary.
"And to the rest of my colleagues—saludo po ako sa inyo (I salute you). Your service in this Chamber will not be forgotten," Romualdez said.
"Hindi man kayo nabigyan muling panibagong termino, tandaan ninyo (You may not have been given fresh terms, but remember this): you were part of something bigger than any one election,” he added.
Romualdez, Leyte's 1st district representative and Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president, reminded them of the heights achieved by the House in the 19th Congress.
“You helped pass laws. You shaped debate. You served your districts with passion and integrity. You gave your all – and the Filipino people saw it,” he said.
“Your legacy is now woven into the fabric of this Congress. At kahit wala na kayo rito sa susunod na panahon, mananatili kayong bahagi ng tagumpay ng 19th Congress," he underscored.
Romualdez attributed the achievements of the 19th Congress not to political dominance but to a culture of collaboration and shared purpose. “We bridged divides. We reached across parties. We listened to one another, debated one another, but in the end – we voted for the Filipino."
He added: “We showed that in the face of challenge, this House stood strong. We chose country over color, service over self. This is the power of democracy. This is the spirit of Bagong Pilipinas.”
The 300-plus strong House of Representatives processed an impressive volume of legislative work during the 19th Congress, with 13,868 measures filed between July 25, 2022 and May 28, 2025.
Of this number, 11,506 were bills, and 2,361 were various forms of resolutions. The chamber also submitted 1,451 committee reports and ultimately approved 1,493 measures on final reading, including 280 Republic Acts (RA)– 93 national and 187 local laws.
The 19th Congress will adjourn sine die or conclude on June 11, with legislative offices formally closing on June 13.