Speaker Faustino Dy III on Tuesday announced two initiatives to fight corruption, strengthen accountability, and restore public trust in government, saying the House of Representatives must lead by example in pursuing reforms that uphold integrity and responsibility in public service.
In his speech at the resumption of the House session, Dy described corruption as a deep wound that hinders development, undermines good governance, and betrays public trust.
“There is one challenge that continues to hinder development, a longstanding wound in society—corruption. This is the rust of the government that is gradually eating away at the trust of the people. This is the real culprit in every project that is not completed, in every service that is nailed down, and in the promises that are not fulfilled,” Dy said in Tagalog.
The Speaker said the House will take two concrete steps to confront corruption: the swift passage of the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption (ICI) Bill and the filing of the Anti-Dynasty Bill.
Dy said that the ICI Bill will establish an independent body tasked with investigating and prosecuting individuals behind ghost and anomalous infrastructure projects, especially in flood control programs.
“Anger is not enough; we need a solution. The ICI Bill will help hold accountable individuals involved in corruption in flood control projects,” the House Speaker said.
“Our message is clear: there will be zero delays in the passage of this measure because our people have zero tolerance for corruption. So our directive here is also clear: we will pass this bill before we adjourn this December,” he added.
Dy also said that the House would take up the Anti-Dynasty Bill so it could fulfill a constitutional mandate by clearly defining “political dynasty” in order to promote fairness, competition and broader participation in governance.
“It is time to deal with another issue that has long been stated in our Constitution: the enforcement of the law against political dynasties,” he said. “The objective of this is not to hinder anyone, but to expand the opportunity for more Filipinos to serve and participate in the government.”
Dy said the twin reforms reflect the resolve of the House to earn back the people’s trust through action, not rhetoric.
“To my fellow legislators, let’s prove, not only in words but in actions, that we are open and ready to listen to our countrymen, because this is where the true direction of our government comes from,” he said.
“We are serious about implementing new reforms, because we know that the trust of our people depends on it. Serious change is the only way to a better, more just, and more prosperous Philippines,” Dy added.
