House Speaker Martin Romualdez (left), President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Facebook)

Ranking congressmen from the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) have reaffirmed their support for President Marcos' administration and for the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez in the House of Representatives ahead of the mid-term elections. 

Expressing this in no uncertain terms on Monday, Jan. 8 were Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speaker David “Jay-Jay” Suarez, and House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe.

President Marcos chairs the ruling Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP)--the head party of the administration coalition. 

However, the true might of this coalition is the more established Lakas-CMD, the president of which is Romualdez. Marcos and Romualdez are cousins.

The mid-term polls will take place in May 2025.

Lakas-CMD stalwarts Gonzales, Suarez, and Dalipe reckoned that Romualdez’s leadership continues to unify Congress in delivering pro-people measures aligned with President Marcos’ development goals.

The House leaders praised the Speaker for uniting the supermajority bloc and achieving legislative milestones that prioritize the welfare of marginalized sectors while addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges.

Gonzales said Speaker Romualdez has been pivotal in the House’s record-breaking accomplishments, which include passing laws that directly benefit farmers, workers, and small business owners.

“Speaker Romualdez’s leadership has been the catalyst for the House’s unprecedented productivity, consistently driving results. His focus on inclusive growth and people-centered reforms demonstrates our collective commitment to improving the lives of every Filipino,” the Pampanga 3rd district legislator said.

Suarez highlighted the passage of critical measures under Romualdez’s watch, such as Republic Act (RA) No.12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act. The law combats agricultural smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartels by declaring these acts as economic sabotage punishable by life imprisonment. 

The lawmaker from Quezon province's 2nd district also pointed to RA No.12078, which extends the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) until 2031 and increases its annual allocation from P10 billion to P30 billion to support rice farmers.

“These measures, passed under Speaker Romualdez’s leadership, address long-standing issues in agriculture. They dismantle cartels, empower farmers, and ensure food security,” Suarez said.

For his part, Dalipe cited the legislative momentum under Speaker Romualdez, as evidenced by the House's approval of 61out of 64 priority measures identified by President Marcos and the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). 

“Speaker Romualdez’s leadership shows what unity and focus can achieve. He has ensured that we pass forward-looking laws that make an immediate impact on millions of Filipinos,” said Dalipe, who represents the 2nd district of Zamboanga province in Congress.

The three House leaders also underscored Romualdez’s commitment to effective implementation of legislation.