MORE than 60 first-term lawmakers convened Tuesday evening as House Speaker and Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez urged them to surpass the legislative accomplishments of the 19th Congress and push for deeper, more impactful reforms in the 20th Congress.
The event, held at Imelda Hall of Aguado Residence in Malacañang, capped the second batch of the three-day Executive Course on Legislation for neophyte members of the House of Representatives organized by the House Secretariat in partnership with the University of the Philippines – National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG).
The training ended with a fellowship dinner and a call to action from Rep. Romualdez, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) president, urging new lawmakers to aid in exceeding the accomplishments of the 19th Congress.
“We wound up the 19th Congress as a very, very productive one,” Rep. Romualdez, a lawyer from the University of the Philippines, told the attendees, referring to the House’s record of passing 61 out of the 64 priority measures identified as the Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) during the recently concluded 19th Congress.
The 19th Congress House members filed a total of 11,557 bills and 2,393 resolutions; passed 1,565 measures; enacted 287 national and local laws; and processed an average of 29 measures per day in 188 session days.
“Many say, and I tend to agree with them, that it was the most productive and most hard-working Congress in recent memory,” he added.
“But I’m not going to leave it there,” Rep. Romualdez continued. “Because I think the 20th Congress may just live up to be the better one – with you there.”
His remarks served as both an affirmation of their role and a call for responsibility, as he emphasized that the effectiveness of Congress depends on how well its members rise to the challenge of public service.
He stressed that while the 19th Congress had proven the House’s capacity for collaboration and reform, the incoming batch of lawmakers has the opportunity to infuse governance with new energy, ideas and urgency.
Rep. Romualdez noted that the intensive workshop was meant to equip new lawmakers with tools to navigate the institution and contribute early to legislative work.
The course covered key areas including the legislative process, committee work, budgeting, parliamentary rules and ethics in public service.
In his message, Rep. Romualdez also reminded them that legislative work goes beyond drafting bills or attending sessions.
“The House isn’t just about passing laws – it’s about listening, serving and lifting people up,” he said. “With your passion, drive and fresh perspectives, I truly believe we can make this 20th Congress the most dynamic yet.”
Throughout the evening, lawmakers shared insights from their training and discussed how they could align their legislative priorities with the national development agenda, particularly the Bagong Pilipinas vision of President Marcos.
Rep. Romualdez ended his remarks on a hopeful note, reaffirming his confidence in the collective strength of the new Congress.
“With you, the 20th Congress can be even better,” Rep. Romualdez said.
Rep. Romualdez was joined by Quezon Rep. David “Jay-jay” Suarez of Quezon, former Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga, Manila Rep. Joel Chua, Davao de Oro Rep. Maricar Zamora, House Secretary General Reginald “Reggie” S. Velasco, Deputy Secretary General Sofonias “Ponyong” P. Gabonada, and Deputy Secretary General for Legislative Operations Department lawyer David Robert Amorin.
Some of the leaders of Young Guns who joined the fellowship dinner include Reps. Paolo Ortega V of La Union, Jay Khonghun of Zambales, Rodge Gutierrez of 1-Rider Party-list, Ernix Dionisio of Manila and Lordan Suan of Cagayan de Oro City.
Speaker Romualdez also recognized the presence of the so-called House Hotshots or the rising young leaders in the House of Representatives that include Reps. Andrew Julian K. Romualdez (Tingog Party-list), Javier Miguel “Javi” L. Benitez (Negros Occidental), Ryan S. Recto (Batangas), Brian Poe-Llamanzares (FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list) and Leandro Legarda Leviste (Batangas
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