WITH only two weeks left before the 19th Congress adjourns sine die, the House of Representatives is set to fast-track several priority bills, Speaker Martin Romualdez said Sunday.
Sessions resume Monday, with lawmakers aiming to pass key legislation before the end of this Congress.
“Panahon na para tapusin ang mga naiwan nating trabaho. Now is the final stretch of the 19th Congress, and we intend to make every day count,” Romualdez said.
Among the bills up for final reading is the controversial Anti-POGO Bill (HB 10987), which seeks to ban offshore gaming operations in the country due to their alleged links to crime and corruption. Also slated are the Philippine Civil Registry Act (HB 11359), which modernizes the recording of civil status data, and HB 11430, which allows a state of imminent disaster declaration to trigger proactive response mechanisms.
Other measures include HB 11395, institutionalizing emergency aid for people in crisis, and HB 11400, expanding benefits for senior citizens. Romualdez stressed that each proposal directly impacts public safety and welfare.
While highlighting legislative output—nearly 14,000 measures filed, with over 1,400 passed on final reading—Romualdez also warned against threats to democracy, citing online disinformation.
He said the House would finish strong and reaffirmed support for President Marcos’ priorities, including the P20 rice initiative and the Common Legislative Agenda, with only one of 28 LEDAC priority bills still pending.
