IS A change in the leadership of the House of Representatives possible?
A total 285 lawmakers have signed a manifesto of support for the retention of Martin Romualdez as House Speaker in the 20th Congress that begins later this month.
While the numbers would indicate the outcome of the voting for the top post would be a foregone conclusion, it would appear that Cebu 5th District Rep. Duke Frasco appears unfazed by the formidable odds.
Traditional power blocs and political parties focus on machineries, but the Frasco camp sees him as a potential dark horse: one with the unique combination of executive and legislative experience, regional representation, and professional grounding in finance.
Can Frasco hack it?
He will be on his third and final term in the 20th Congress, having served in both the 18th and 19th Congress, and boasts of over 18 years of public service.
He was Mayor of Liloan for nine years starting in 2007, was elected as Vice Mayor in 2016 and then appointed as Commissioner for the Cebu Port Authority which paved the way for the construction of Liloan Port.
Known for his no-nonsense leadership style, Frasco, his supporters believe, has built a reputation for delivering results, particularly in the education and healthcare sectors.
In Congress, Frasco authored key legislation that expanded access to public higher education, including the establishment of new campuses for Cebu Technological University and Cebu Normal University in underserved areas of his district.
His healthcare initiatives include the construction and funding of the Liloan’s Children’s Hospital, improvement of district hospitals, facilitating improvements in medical assistance programs, and pushing for health infrastructure in geographically isolated communities.
It’s Frasco’s background outside politics that could help him explore other possibilities. Educated and raised in the United States, Frasco earned his degree in Finance and Accounting and went on to work as an internal auditor for a multinational corporation. His private sector experience, particularly in financial controls and accountability, is seen by his supporters as a big plus for him.
Then there’s his strong regional roots: fluent in Bisaya, born and raised in Cebu, and with maternal ties to Misamis Oriental in Mindanao, he is touted as someone who’s in a unique position to bridge regional divides that have long defined Philippine politics.
His ability to connect with both Visayas and Mindanao constituencies may be crucial in rallying grassroots support for a more inclusive and cooperative Congress.
Despite not hailing from a traditional political family, nor seen as part of the typical power centers in Manila, Frasco’s people-centric approach appears to have earned him the respect of colleagues.
In the halls of the House, where politics often overshadows performance, Frasco apparently wants to demonstrate the kind of principled leadership that can unify a fragmented chamber.
Whether or not Frasco will seek the speakership is still up in the air.
But his name is now in the mix after he criticized Martin Romualdez’s leadership, citing concerns over political disunity and personal interests within the House of Representatives.
He also declined to sign a manifesto supporting Romualdez’s continued speakership for the 20th Congress.
That led to his expulsion from the National Unity Party, which had officially backed Romualdez.
NUP President LRay Villafuerte accused Frasco of breaching party unity and pursuing personal interests, suggesting Frasco’s move was a political tactic to retain his post as Deputy Speaker.
At this point, with 285 lawmakers already committing to retain Martin Romualdez as House Speaker, what’s clear is that it’s going to be an uphill climb for Frasco.
While Romualdez enjoys numerical support and therefore likely to remain firmly in the saddle, there seems to be underlying tensions within the institution.
If dissent grows, a leadership challenge could emerge – either formally through a speakership vote or informally via committee reshuffles and budget negotiations.
With growing demand for regional equity in policy-making, we can probably expect louder calls for decentralization, resource reallocation, and more representation in key committees in the months ahead. (Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)
