THE House of Representatives on Wednesday formally convened its first special session of the 20th Congress pursuant to Proclamation No. 1318 issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., with Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III presiding over the proceedings.
“Pursuant to Proclamation No. 1318, dated June 15, 2026, by His Excellency, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., calling the Congress of the Philippines to a special session to urgently consider the passage of priority legislative measures, this special session of the House of Representatives is hereby called to order,” Dy declared at the opening of the proceedings.
The special session was called by the President to urgently consider priority legislative measures intended to strengthen education, healthcare, nutrition, social protection, and services for underserved communities.
During the session, the House adopted House Resolution No. 1124 informing the Senate that the chamber had convened its first special session and had entered upon the exercise of its functions.
The House also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 11 creating a joint committee of both Houses of Congress to notify the President that Congress had convened its special session and that a quorum was present.
In the course of the proceedings, Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos noted that the House had already approved all measures identified in Proclamation No. 1318.
“Considering that the House has already approved all measures identified in Proclamation No. 1318, I move to consider House Concurrent Resolution No. 15,” the Majority Leader said during the session.
The House subsequently adopted House Concurrent Resolution No. 15, providing for the adjournment of the first special session of the 20th Congress not later than midnight of Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
The resolution also authorized the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to declare the special session adjourned, and created a committee composed of all House Deputy Speakers to join their Senate counterparts in informing President Marcos that the first special session was about to close.
According to the report of the notification committee, President Marcos was duly informed of the approved measures by the House of Representatives identified in Proclamation No. 1318 and of the adjournment of the first special session.
The priority measures identified for consideration during the special session include amendments to the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act, amendments to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, the proposed National Center for Geriatric Health Act, the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations Act, the Last Mile and Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged and Conflict-Affected Areas Schools Act, and amendments to the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act.
Speaker Dy had earlier said these measures are intended to bring concrete benefits to ordinary Filipinos, especially students, senior citizens, low-income families, and communities in remote and underserved areas.
“Ang mga panukalang ito ay may direktang epekto sa buhay ng ating mga kababayan. Kapag napalawak natin ang access sa edukasyon, napalakas ang sistema ng ayuda para sa mga nangangailangan, at napabuti ang serbisyong pangkalusugan, mas maraming pamilyang Pilipino ang magkakaroon ng pagkakataong umangat at magkaroon ng mas magandang kinabukasan,” said the Speaker.
Under Dy’s stewardship, the House approved 229 measures during the First Regular Session, including 66 national bills and 163 local measures. The chamber also approved 26 priority measures identified under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), representing half of the administration’s 52 priority legislative measures.
Among the major reforms approved by the House are the proposed KALINGA Act of 2026, National Land Use Act, Right to Information Act, amendments to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Department of Water Resources Act, restructuring of the Energy Regulatory Commission, Waste-to-Energy Act, Digital Payments Act, the Child Online Safety and Protection Act, the Anti-Political Dynasty Act, and the proposed Anti-Fake News and Disinformation Act.
The House convened the special session and completed its proceedings after noting that all measures identified by the President for urgent consideration had already been approved by the chamber and transmitted for further legislative action.
