A LITTLE over two weeks after calling on lawmakers to act “with purpose, discipline, and resolve” upon the resumption of session, House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III on Friday said the quick and steady progress of priority legislation reflects the commitment of the House of Representatives to remain focused on its constitutional mandate and responsibilities to the Filipino people.
This after the House approved on second reading 38 bills during plenary deliberations on May 20, 2026—measures that cover governance reforms, emergency response, energy security, public safety, infrastructure, and local development initiatives.
“At the resumption of session, we said that the House must continue to act with purpose, discipline, and resolve. Ang mahalaga ngayon ay tuluy-tuloy nating ginagawa ang trabaho at mandato na ipinagkatiwala sa atin ng taumbayan,” Dy said.
“Patuloy nating pagtutuunan ng pansin ang mga panukalang batas na may direktang epekto sa buhay ng mga Pilipino.”
Among the measures approved was House Bill No. (HB) 8389, or the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act, which seeks to prohibit political dynasties in national and local elective offices. The measure was originally authored by Speaker Dy and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos and is a priority measure under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
The House also passed on second reading HB 9305, which institutionalizes a National Emergency Response and Resiliency Framework and creates the proposed “KALINGA Program” aimed at ensuring economic stability, energy security, and continuity of essential services during times of crisis. The bill was likewise originally authored by Dy and Marcos.
Also approved on second reading were HB 8392 declaring National Election Day a regular non-working holiday, as well as HB 8702 increasing the compulsory retirement age of uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police from 56 to 57 years old.
Several energy- and infrastructure-related measures likewise moved forward, including HB 9010 granting a franchise for the transportation and distribution of natural gas and petroleum products, along with multiple electric cooperative franchise measures aimed at strengthening power distribution systems in various provinces.
According to Dy, the House would continue to pursue measures anchored on accountability, transparency, and public welfare.
“Sa bawat hakbang ng Kamara, ang layunin natin ay tiyaking may konkretong mararamdaman ang ating mga kababayan at mapanatili ang tiwala nila sa mga institusyon ng pamahalaan,” he said.
Aside from national measures, the House also approved several local bills declaring special non-working holidays and commemorative measures in different provinces, municipalities, and cities across the country.
The House also recently approved on third reading three key measures, including two LEDAC priority bills. The two LEDAC priority measures passed on third reading are HB 8647, or the proposed amendments to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act, and HB 9157, or the proposed Philippine Waste to Energy Act.
The House likewise approved on third reading HB 8466, or the proposed National Land Use Act, a long-awaited measure that seeks to establish a rational and science-based framework for land use and physical planning in the country. Considered one of the longest-pending legislative measures in Congress, the proposed law aims to harmonize development, food security, environmental protection, housing, infrastructure, and disaster resilience through a more coherent and sustainable land use policy.
About the Author
