SPEAKER Martin Romualdez on Wednesday evening emphasized that the House of Representatives “worked hard and made change real,” passing legislation aimed at improving the lives of Filipinos.
In his remarks during the final session of the 19th Congress, Romualdez said lawmakers prioritized public service over politics.
“We chose purpose over politics. Service over self. And action over excuses,” he said.
From July 2022 to June 10, 2025, the House filed 11,557 bills and 2,393 resolutions, passed 1,565 measures, enacted 287 national and local laws, and processed an average of 29 measures per session day across 188 session days.
“But let me be clear: this is not about volume. This is about value. The question is: do these laws serve the people? And I say with conviction: yes. These laws mattered. These laws made lives better,” Romualdez added.
He highlighted key laws passed under his leadership, including:
- Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, Philippine Maritime Zones Act, and Self-Reliant Defense Posture program – to protect national sovereignty
- Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act and Salt Industry Development Act – to safeguard farmers and revive local industries
- Maharlika Investment Fund Act, Ease of Paying Taxes Act, and CREATE MORE Act – to attract investments
- ARAL Program Act, ETEEAP Act, and EBET Framework Act – to widen access to education and employment
- Internet Transactions Act and VAT on Digital Services law – to prepare for a digital economy
- Philippine Natural Gas Industry Development Act and Amendments to the EPIRA Law – to ensure energy sustainability
“These are not just laws. They are strategic reforms. They redefine the role of government—from passive bystander to active catalyst. Laws with courage, heart, and meaning. We legislated not for headlines, but for history,” Romualdez declared.
He said all legislative efforts aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas vision and the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028.
“We turned vision into law. We took a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach and made it real—benefiting every Filipino.”
Romualdez credited much of the House’s success to a strong and deliberate partnership with the Executive Branch.
Of the 64 Common Legislative Agenda items, the House passed 63 and enacted 33 into law. It also approved 27 out of 28 priority measures of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
“This unity was not about surrendering independence, but aligning our purpose with the people’s priorities. We governed as one—one government, one Republic, one Nation,” he concluded.
