SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives, on Tuesday filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for another term as the representative of Leyte’s First District, his sixth term as a member of the chamber if elected once again.
He filed his COC before Atty. Maria Goretti Canas, Acting Provincial Election Supervisor of the Province of Leyte.
During the filing of his COC at Tacloban City’s Commission on Elections (Comelec) office, Speaker Romualdez, a lawyer from the University of the Philippines (UP), expressed sincere gratitude to the people of Leyte for their continued trust and support throughout his political career.
“Ang patuloy na suporta ng ating mga kababayan ang inspirasyon ko upang ipagpatuloy ang ating nasimulan. Isa pong malaking karangalan ang magsilbi sa Leyte at sa buong bansa,” Speaker Romualdez, president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa), said.
The Speaker was accompanied during his filing of COC by other top officials of the province, including Governor Jericho Petilla, Vice Gov. Leonardo Javier, 2nd District Rep. Karen Javier, as well as the mayors from the 1st District, including Remedios Petilla of Palo, Lovell Ann Yu-Castro (Alang-alang), Eleonor Lugnasin (Babatngon), Norman Sabdao (San Miguel), Amparo Monteza (Santa Fe), Gina Merilo (Tanauan), and Erwin Ocana (Tolosa).
Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez was respresented by Councilor Raymund Romualdez, President of Liga ng mga Barangay of Tacloban and Region VII.
Local chief executives from the municipalities comprising the 2nd District of Leyte as well as three board members from various districts of the province were also present at the Comelec office when Speaker Romualdez filed his COC.
Speaker Romualdez is riding on the crest of a remarkable legislative track record. In the 16th Congress, he led the House Independent Minority bloc and thereafter served as Majority Leader during the 18th Congress, a position where he helped ensure the passage of key legislative measures that addressed urgent national concerns.
His leadership in the 19th Congress has been instrumental in uniting the House of Representatives to pass laws that respond to the evolving needs of the Filipino people under the able leadership of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.
One of his notable legislative achievements is the passage of Republic Act No. 10754, a law that grants persons with disabilities (PWDs) exemption from the value-added tax (VAT), and other discounts and benefits during the Aquino administration.
“This is one of the laws that I am proud to have authored because it genuinely helps a sector of Philippine society. We aim to pass more laws like this if we are fortunate enough to get a fresh mandate from the people of Leyte,” Speaker Romualdez said.
During his tenure as Speaker of the House, Romualdez oversaw the passage of several landmark laws, among them are the SIM Registration Act, the Maharlika Investment Fund, and the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, among countless others.
All of these, Speaker Romualdez said, were key priorities of the administration of President Marcos. His leadership was instrumental in ensuring that these measures were deliberated and passed efficiently, reflecting the unity of both houses of Congress.
Speaker Romualdez is also the President of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), the dominant political party in the current Congress, which has earned high public approval ratings under his leadership.
He has been a staunch advocate of unity and inclusivity, ensuring that the legislative agenda reflects the needs of all Filipinos.
As Majority Leader of the 18th Congress, Romualdez’s leadership was pivotal during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, where he helped pass urgent laws such as Bayanihan 1 and Bayanihan 2, providing crucial aid to millions of Filipinos affected by the crisis.
“During the pandemic, we worked tirelessly to pass laws that addressed the health and economic challenges brought by COVID-19. Our Bayanihan laws provided much-needed assistance to our people,” Speaker Romualdez noted.
Throughout his legislative career, Speaker Romualdez has been an active champion of laws that uplift vulnerable sectors, as he led the passage of several landmark laws, including the COVID-19 Vaccination Act of 2021, the Alternative Learning System Act, and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE), among others.
Speaker Romualdez has always been passionate about his home province of Leyte. His commitment to Leyteños was most evident during the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, where he worked tirelessly for the rehabilitation and recovery of the province.
He continues to champion disaster preparedness and recovery, not only for Leyte but for other vulnerable areas in the Philippines.
“Ang Leyte ay hindi natin pinabayaan sa gitna ng kalamidad, at patuloy nating ipaglalaban ang kaligtasan at kabutihan ng ating mga kababayan. Kapag may kalamidad naman sa ibang lugar, sinisiguro nating nakakapagpadala ng tulong sa mga nasalanta dahil kami sa Leyte ay naging recipient ng tulong noong panahon ng Yolanda,” Speaker Romualdez declared.
Speaker Romualdez’s leadership is also characterized by his ability to unite various political factions, ensuring smooth deliberations on critical legislative issues.
Under his guidance, the 19th Congress passed nearly all the priority measures identified by the Marcos administration during the State of the Nation Address (SONA). Speaker Romualdez credits this success to the collective efforts of his colleagues.
“Sa pagkakaisa ng ating mga mambabatas, mas napapabilis natin ang pagtugon sa mga pangangailangan ng bansa,” he said.
Looking ahead, Speaker Romualdez remains committed to advancing the interests of Leyte and the broader Filipino public.
If re-elected, he plans to focus on expanding educational programs, improving healthcare services, and ensuring that infrastructure development in Leyte keeps pace with the province’s growing needs. He also aims to continue promoting livelihood programs that will benefit farmers, fishermen, and small business owners.
Speaker Romualdez also shared his vision for the future, particularly in fostering economic growth and creating jobs.
“Patuloy nating isusulong ang mga programa na magbibigay ng mas maraming oportunidad hindi lamang sa mga Leyteños kundi pati sa lahat ng Pilipino, lalo na sa larangan ng agrikultura at turismo,” he said.
As Speaker, he was lauded for pushing for transparency and accountability within the legislative process.
Under his leadership, the House of Representatives maintained a focus on good governance and the fair distribution of resources across
