Change in House Leadership Could Affect Marcos Agenda
A shift in leadership within the House of Representatives could significantly impact the legislative agenda of President Marcos during the remainder of his term. This concern was raised by a key political figure who emphasized the importance of stability as the administration moves forward.
National Unity Party (NUP) President and Camarines Sur 2nd district representative LRay Villafuerte highlighted that the party fully supports Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez as the House Speaker for the upcoming 20th Congress. Romualdez currently serves as the Speaker of the 19th Congress, which will adjourn on June 13.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Villafuerte said, stressing that a leadership change could jeopardize the administration’s priorities and cause legislative setbacks during the crucial second half of President Marcos’ term.
Legislative Achievements Under Current Leadership
Before the 19th Congress recessed for midterm elections, the House, under Romualdez’s leadership, passed 88 laws with national significance. Many of these bills were part of the priority agenda set by President Marcos and the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
The House also approved 61 out of 64 bills on the Common Legislative Agenda (CLA), including 27 of the 28 bills identified by LEDAC. Villafuerte himself authored or co-authored 20 of these LEDAC priority measures, demonstrating strong collaboration within the current congressional leadership.
Importance of Leadership Continuity for Legislative Progress
Romualdez has emerged as one of Malacañang’s most reliable legislative allies. Villafuerte emphasized that the NUP supports the continuity of the “Bagong Pilipinas” agenda, which aims to improve the lives of Filipinos through pro-poor and pro-growth policies.
“For the House to help stay the course of this pro-poor and pro-growth vision in Congress, it is crucial for Speaker Martin to remain at the helm to continue shepherding the passage of priority bills intended to promote high, inclusive, and sustainable growth,” Villafuerte explained.
He added that maintaining consistent leadership is vital as Filipinos begin to experience the benefits of programs carried out during the first three years of the Marcos administration.
Looking Ahead: The 20th Congress and Legislative Agenda
The NUP, which holds 34 seats in the approximately 300-member House, along with other pro-administration political parties, recently convened at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. This meeting marked the first post-election caucus focused on setting the legislative priorities for the 20th Congress.
Local sources indicate that the gathering reinforced support for Romualdez’s continued leadership to ensure the smooth advancement of President Marcos’ priority bills.
Overall, the consensus among community leaders is that preserving leadership stability in the House of Representatives will help sustain the momentum of the administration’s legislative agenda and avoid any disruptions that could affect governance and national development.
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