Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Friday welcomed the call from business leaders and civil society to stamp out corruption in government, vowing that the House of Representatives will never condone abuses in public service.
“I welcome and respect the strong statement made by our partners in the business community and civil society calling for an end to corruption in government. Their concern echoes the very principles of transparency, accountability, and integrity that the House of Representatives has committed to uphold,” Speaker Romualdez said.
Thirty of the country’s biggest and most influential business groups have strongly condemned graft and corruption in government, particularly at the Department of Public Works and Highways, local government units, and the Commission on Audit (CoA).
In a joint statement on Thursday, the groups said their appeal was not simply to “moderate greed” but a collective demand for corrupt officials to stop and show mercy to the suffering people.
Speaker Romualdez stressed that Congress will not tolerate wrongdoing in any branch of government.
“Let me be clear: the House of the People will never condone corruption, whether in public works, local governance, or any other area of government service,” said Speaker Romualdez.
He added: “Allegations of wrongdoing must be investigated thoroughly and addressed decisively. I fully support initiatives for independent scrutiny and fair prosecution to ensure that those who betray public trust are held accountable under the law.”
The Speaker noted that in the 20th Congress, lawmakers have already enacted sweeping reforms in the budget process to restore public trust.
He cited greater transparency in budget hearings and bicameral deliberations, which are now open to the public and livestreamed so taxpayers can see how funds are allocated.
Speaker Romualdez pointed to stricter oversight of lump-sum and unprogrammed appropriations, requiring detailed justifications from agencies before approval or release.
The House chief also emphasized stronger citizen participation through engagement with watchdog groups and civil society organizations to help monitor projects and spending.
He said the chamber is pushing budget modernization through measures such as the proposed Budget Modernization Act, which will institutionalize a performance-based, cash-based, and results-oriented spending framework.
“These reforms are not mere rhetoric—they are concrete actions designed to ensure that every peso in the national budget is allocated properly, spent prudently, and accounted for responsibly,” Speaker Romualdez said.
He called on the private sector, professionals, and civic groups to join Congress in ensuring the reforms reach full implementation.
“Together, let us build a governance culture where every peso is protected, every project is transparent, and every public official is held to the highest standard of service,” Speaker Romualdez stressed.
