House Leaders Prepare for 20th Congress
Leaders of political parties in the House of Representatives gathered on Friday to discuss plans for the incoming 20th Congress, focusing on committee assignments and organizational matters. This meeting took place shortly after the national canvass for Eleksyon 2025 was completed.
Deputy Speaker David “Jay-jay” Suarez, who secured reelection as representative of Quezon’s second district, emphasized the importance of early preparation. He said, “We have three years, and we have 315 congressmen. So there’s so much work and preparation that needs to be done, especially when it comes to issues like committee assignments.” Their goal is to ensure the House can function smoothly when sessions begin on July 1.
Support for Speaker Martin Romualdez
Several lawmakers expressed strong support for Leyte’s 1st district Representative Martin Romualdez to continue as Speaker. Romualdez leads the Lakas CMD party, which holds over 100 seats in the upcoming Congress.
Suarez noted, “We’re the dominant majority party. Kung hindi po ako nagkakamali, we have around 105 elected congressmen and we’re 100% behind the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez, of course, under the banner of continuity.”
Leadership Stability Expected
When asked if there were other contenders for the speakership, Suarez replied, “I do not know of any other person or personality. Only Speaker Martin.” He added, “I don’t think there is any change in leadership that will happen in the House.”
Similarly, Nationalist People’s Coalition spokesperson and Quezon’s 1st district Representative Mark Enverga, present at the meeting, said he has not heard any rumors about a leadership change. “We believe that Speaker Martin will continue his term as speaker. I guess it’s a matter of discussing it… in the coming month or soon enough,” Enverga said.
Iloilo’s 3rd district Representative Lorenz Defensor, a member of the National Unity Party, echoed these sentiments. “I have been reading and hearing the same rumors of changes in the House leadership for the 20th Congress. No formal invitation or request has reached me to change the Speaker of the House,” he said.
He added, “I continue to support the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez.”
Outlook for the 20th Congress
As the 20th Congress approaches, leaders are focused on assigning committees and ensuring an efficient start to the legislative session. With the dominant majority party firmly backing the current Speaker, leadership is expected to remain stable.
For more updates on Eleksyon 2025, visit Filipinokami.com.