House vows passage of vital bills to support Duterte legacy

House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez echoed the Speaker’s statement, noting that the House aims to pass the measures proposing the creation of three departments before the next adjournment in March. (File Photo: House of Representatives of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA — The House of Representatives has reaffirmed its commitment to pass President Rodrigo Duterte’s priority measures to help sustain the administration’s legacy in providing the Filipinos a safe and comfortable life.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano made the statement on Sunday as Congress resumes its session this week.

Cayetano said top-billing the priority list are the three proposed departments — Department of Disaster Resilience, Department of Overseas Filipinos and Department of Water.

Also included in the priority measures are the tax reform bills, which will help bankroll the administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program as well as the health and social services.

“Our colleagues have committed to fast-track the passage of the creation of Department Resilience to better equip our country to respond to natural and man-made calamities as well as improve our rehabilitation efforts,” Cayetano said.

“We have good laws like the Universal Health Care, and Free Tertiary Education Act but we need to ensure that they are properly funded hence we need to pass all these tax measures,” Cayetano added.

House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez echoed the Speaker’s statement, noting that the House aims to pass the measures proposing the creation of three departments before the next adjournment in March.

“We aim to hit the ground running when session resumes on Monday. Time to roll up our sleeves once again and work double time on vital legislative measures. The Speaker made a clear instruction to pass these bills,” Romualdez said.

“We hope to vote soon for second reading approval the proposed law creating the Department of Filipinos Overseas and Foreign Employment to keep an eye on the safety and protection of overseas Filipinos, including seafarers and household service workers, Department of Disaster Resilience to create a primary agency responsible for leading the national effort before, during and after disasters, the Department of Water Resources to avert water crisis, and other bills,” he added.

Romualdez vowed to work harder for another remarkable performance of the House by approving Duterte’s legislative agenda aimed at making the life of Filipinos more comfortable.

“We are committed and inspired to work harder, smarter and more efficiently this year,” said Romualdez.

Before the Christmas break, Romualdez said the House of Representatives processed a total of 900 measures or an average of 28 measures per day during the 32 session days.