A week before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) and the resumption of sessions, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Sunday assured that the House of Representatives is committed to passing the 2025 national budget.
At the same time, the House will also be addressing the remaining Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council priority bills and possible additional key SONA measures.
“The House is ready to take swift and decisive action to ensure these legislative priorities are met, paving the way for sustained development and progress under the administration of President Marcos,” he said.
The House Speaker stated that the Congress is awaiting the executive branch’s proposed P6.352-trillion National Expenditure Program to form the basis for the 2025 General Appropriations Bill, and is eyeing to pass it before the end of September.
He cited that the swift and timely passage of next year’s national budget is a top priority.
“The 2025 national budget is essential for sustaining our nation’s growth and addressing the immediate needs of our citizens, and the House is ready to ensure its swift approval to support our development and progress,” he emphasized.
The 2025 national budget, which represents a 10-percent increase from this year’s P5.768-trillion allocation, is equivalent to 22 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
“We are ready and determined to work hard to pass the 2025 GAB before we go on break at the end of September. We will ensure the timely transmission of the spending bill to the Senate for their consideration as well,” Romualdez affirmed.
“We are fully committed to passing all the bills that President Marcos will possibly outline in his SONA. The House is ready and determined to work diligently to ensure these critical measures are enacted swiftly to support our nation’s progress and development,” the Speaker continued.
In his upcoming SONA, the President is expected to outline key legislative measures aimed at addressing the country’s most urgent issues and driving its growth agenda.
These SONA measures, according to Romualdez, are crucial for addressing the country’s immediate needs and promoting sustainable development.
“We will work closely with the executive branch to ensure their swift and successful passage,” he added.
“We are committed to completing the legislative agenda by passing these crucial measures. They are vital for our nation’s progress and prosperity, and we will ensure they are enacted swiftly and effectively,” he continued.
Since the start of the 19th Congress in July 2022, the House has shown impressive legislative output, he noted.
“The House has diligently prioritized LEDAC bills, leading to substantial progress, with over 12,000 measures filed and 75 bills enacted into law,” he shared.
The robust legislative activity “underscores our commitment to addressing the diverse needs of our nation.”
From July 2022 to June 2024, 12,405 measures were filed, including 10,565 bills, 1,839 resolutions and one petition.
During the same period, 1,123 committee reports were filed and 75 bills were enacted into law, comprising 30 national and 45 local measures.
Romualdez reaffirmed the House’s commitment to passing the remaining three of the 28 LEDAC bills targeted for approval before the end of the 19th Congress — the amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, Agrarian Reform Law and Foreign Investors’ Long-Term Lease Act.
The amendments to the Agrarian Reform Law and the Foreign Investors’ Long-Term Lease Act are also among the five new priority bills identified during the recent full LEDAC meeting, which Speaker Romualdez vowed the House will advance.
The other three priorities—the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, Reforms to the Philippine Capital Markets, and Amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law — have all been approved by the House on third and final reading.
“Our focus on these new LEDAC measures demonstrates our unwavering commitment to enacting laws that drive national progress,” the Speaker said.
He expressed his anticipation of a more vibrant collaboration with the Senate under the leadership of Senate President Francis Escudero.
“I look forward to a robust partnership with the Senate, led by Senate President Escudero. Together, we can achieve significant legislative milestones that will profoundly benefit our nation,” he remarked.
“This collaboration is vital to ensuring our legislative efforts are cohesive and effective in addressing the pressing needs of our people.”
