LEYTE Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Monday led the Congressional Consultative Forum on Regional Priorities for Regions X, XI, and CARAGA at the Almont Inland Resort in Butuan City.
During the forum, the lawmakers engaged in a wide-ranging dialogue on local development needs, national policy alignment, and shared legislative goals under President Marcos’ Bagong Pilipinas agenda.
The event brought together House members from key political parties—Lakas-CMD, Nacionalista Party (NP), National Unity Party (NUP), Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), Liberal Party (LP) and an independent party—demonstrating broad, cross-party unity in support of “inclusive and responsive governance.”
“This forum is more than a gathering of colleagues—it is a reflection of our commitment to listening, learning, and legislating for the people. We are united not just by party lines, but by our shared duty to uplift every Filipino,” said Romualdez, who also serves as President of Lakas-CMD.
The gathering, which Romualdez described as a “listening session,” served as a platform for lawmakers to raise urgent concerns, propose policy interventions, and ensure their advocacies are integrated into the national agenda.
“We are here to listen. We are here to understand your realities, your aspirations, and your solutions. The 20th Congress is committed to being a partner in turning regional visions into national progress,” Romualdez emphasized in his keynote address.
Romualdez, along with former Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. and Deputy Speaker David Suarez, who joined colleagues in reaffirming the House leadership’s support for district-level programs that uplift communities and address pressing social and economic challenges.
Romualdez also assured the participants that the House will institutionalize more regional consultations in the months ahead, reinforcing a legislative culture anchored in listening, responsiveness, and action.
Central to the discussions was the “House-to-House Agenda,” a seven-point framework that guides the legislative priorities of the 20th Congress and complements the President’s socio-economic roadmap.
The topics covered food security, access to clean water supply,
affordable and stable electricity, reliable means of transportation, sustainable livelihood, accessible healthcare, and quality education.
Romualdez said they are looking forward to a government that cares and a Congress with a heart. “With our unity, no one will be left behind in New Philippines,” he stressed.
Romualdez also assured his colleagues that the House leadership “stands ready to assist them in advancing their respective advocacies and ensuring that their constituents’ needs are reflected in legislative and budgetary decisions.”
Present during the forum were Jose Aquino II of Butuan City, Dale Corvera of Agusan del Norte, Alfelito Bascug and Adolph Edward Plaza of Agusan del Sur, Francisco Matugas of Surigao del Norte, Romeo Momo and Alexander Ty Pimentel of Surigao del Sur, Kaka Bag-ao of Dinagat Islands, Lordan Suan of Cagayan de Oro City, Yevgeny Vicente Emano of Misamis Oriental, Arlyn Ayon of SWERTE party-list), Maria Carmen Zamora, Leonel Ceniza, and. Nelson Dayanghirang Jr. of Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental, De Carlo Uy of Davao del Norte, and John Tracy Cagas of Davao del Sur.
Also present was Gov.Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur who highlighted the value of stronger partnerships between local government units and national lawmakers in accelerating regional growth.
The forum is part of a series of engagements spearheaded by the House to bring national policymaking closer to the regions.
It is seen to reflect the House’s broader strategy to institutionalize grassroots-driven legislation and strengthen the alignment of local priorities with the national development agenda.
