House Speaker Bodjie Dy Courtesy: Office of the Speaker
EVERY community has its own story, its own challenges and its own concerns that deserve to be heard by lawmakers, House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III said Friday as he led the sixth leg of the House of Representatives’ LegisHear public consultation program in Calamba City, Laguna.
“Alam ko po, bawat sulok, bawat sitio, bawat purok, bawat barangay, bawat siyudad, bawat bayan may kanya-kanya po tayong kwento,” Dy told participants at the consultation, emphasizing the importance of hearing directly from ordinary Filipinos in crafting legislation responsive to their needs.
The Speaker said the experiences and recommendations of residents, farmers, parents, teachers, and other stakeholders could help lawmakers better understand the problems confronting communities and determine how proposed laws could address them.
“Importante po kasi ang kontribusyon ng bawat mamamayan nang sa ganun alam natin kung ano ang karapat dapat nating gawin para po laging mas magiging matatag ang pamumuhay, lalong-lalo na po ang ating mga magsasaka.”
Speaking in the hometown of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, Dy also recalled the importance Rizal placed on giving Filipinos a voice in matters affecting their country and ensuring that young people had access to education.
“Bakit namin ginagawa ito? Sapagkat unang-una po, napakahalaga na marinig po naming ang inyong tinig,” Dy said, explaining the purpose of bringing LegisHear to different parts of the country.
The Speaker recalled that his first visit to Calamba was when he was still in elementary school, when he toured Rizal’s ancestral home. Returning decades later as House Speaker, he thanked Laguna officials and residents for welcoming the congressional delegation.
He also drew laughter from the audience when he told Laguna Governor Sol Aragones that lawmakers would bring home more than the province’s famous buko pie.
“Kaya hindi lang buko pie ang aming iuuwi kundi lahat ng inyong mga maiaambag para lalo maging maganda ang ating panukalang batas, yan ang aming iuuwi doon sa kongreso,” Dy said.
The Speaker said the consultations were particularly important in discussing measures affecting farmers, children, and other sectors whose concerns may differ from one community to another.
He also stressed that listening to the people must be accompanied by cooperation among national agencies, local governments, barangay officials, and communities to address problems and improve public services.
Dy assured participants that the House would continue considering their concerns and recommendations as lawmakers work on measures intended to improve the lives of Filipinos.
“Makakaasa po kayo ang kongreso – ang 20th Congress ay nandito po at makikinig sa inyo para lalo po natin maipagpabuti at mapasulong pa ang inyo pong lalawigan ng Laguna.”
metrosundaily
