DEPUTY Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union on Thursday affirmed that the House of Representatives remains firmly on track to be one of the most productive in recent history, stressing that the ongoing impeachment proceedings will not derail the chamber’s legislative momentum.
“Let me be clear: impeachment does not paralyze the House. It activates our constitutional duty while we continue delivering results,” Ortega said.
Ortega emphasized that the House under Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III and Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” R. Marcos of Ilocos Norte is operating on “two tracks at full speed”—legislation and accountability—rejecting claims that the proceedings distract from urgent national concerns such as inflation, fuel prices, and economic stability.
“Hindi pwedeng ipagpaliban ang pananagutan. Pero hindi rin pwedeng pabayaan ang pangangailangan ng taumbayan. We are doing both—decisively and simultaneously,” he added.
According to Ortega, the House has sustained a high-output legislative pace even as impeachment proceedings formally commenced.
He cited recent actions of the chamber that directly address everyday concerns of Filipinos:
• Advancing fuel price relief measures, including authority for the President to suspend or reduce excise taxes on petroleum products
• Continuing legislative work on inflation mitigation, food security, and social protection
• Approving the abolition of the travel tax to reduce costs for Filipinos
• Pushing forward the Digital Payments Act to modernize government services
• Advancing reforms in education, public service delivery, and governance efficiency
• Completing plenary deliberations on the Anti-Political Dynasty bill
“These are not abstract policies. These are real interventions that respond to rising costs, improve services, and expand opportunities,” Ortega said.
Ortega also highlighted the House’s strong performance on the administration’s legislative agenda:
• 18 out of 52 LEDAC priority measures have already been passed or advanced to the bicameral stage before the Holy Week break
• Key measures include the BARMM elections reset, Digital Payments Act, Travel Tax Abolition, EPIRA amendments, and Department of Water Resources bill
“This process is not a slowdown. This is acceleration,” Ortega stressed.
“Even under pressure, the House is moving with discipline and urgency. That is what leadership demands,” he said.
Ortega directly addressed criticism that the House should prioritize economic issues over impeachment proceedings.
“The premise is flawed. Addressing inflation and ensuring accountability are not competing tasks—they are both essential to governance,” Ortega said.
He noted that the same House conducting impeachment is also advancing economic relief measures, particularly in response to global fuel price volatility and regional instability.
“Kung may krisis sa presyo, may tugon ang Kamara. Kung may tanong sa pananagutan, may proseso rin ang Kamara. Hindi kami pipili—gagawin namin pareho,” Ortega said.
Ortega underscored that the impeachment process will proceed based on constitutional mandate, regardless of political noise or individual participation.
“Institutions do not stop because one official chooses not to engage. The work continues, the process continues, and the service continues,” Ortega explained.
For Ortega, the current moment is ultimately a test of the House’s capacity to govern under pressure.
“This moment is where institutions are measured—not when it is easy, but when it is difficult,” Ortega said.
He concluded with a firm message:
“Kahit may impeachment, tuloy ang serbisyo. “The Kamara must prove one thing now—that we can balance accountability and service without backing down,” Ortega said.
