DUMAGUETE CITY — THE House of Representatives on Friday launched the Visayas leg of LegisHear in Dumaguete City, expanding its nationwide public consultation program as the chamber pursued legislation on three fronts: speed, quality, and inclusivity.
House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III said the August 14 consultation at Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) reflected the commitment of the House to not only move legislation faster, but also improve the quality of laws through early and meaningful participation by the people who would ultimately be affected by them.
In a video message played during the launch, the Speaker stressed that “bawat makabuluhang batas ay dapat magsimula sa tinig ng sambayanang Pilipino.”
The Visayas launch came as the House maintained a brisk legislative pace during only the third week of the Second Regular Session of the 20th Congress, approving on third and final reading several major measures this week, including bills strengthening the country’s cybersecurity defenses, expanding access to digital academic resources, improving the governance of local universities and colleges, providing additional support for farmers and fisherfolk, revising the Cooperative Code, and establishing rules on civil liability and compensation for nuclear damage.
But Dy stressed that speed alone would not define the work of the House. The House chief had earlier said that “ang layunin po natin ay hindi lamang mapabilis ang proseso, kundi masiguro ring de-kalidad at maayos ang bawat batas na ating ipinapasa,” as he shared that the chamber was strengthening its committee system, improving coordination with the Senate and Executive, and conducting consultations earlier in the legislative process.
LegisHear represents the inclusivity component of that approach by bringing congressional consultations outside Metro Manila and giving Filipinos in different regions an opportunity to learn about proposed legislation, ask questions, and directly provide their views and experiences.
The Dumaguete event marked LegisHear’s first stop in the Visayas, following its launch at Isabela State University in Echague, Isabela on July 31 and its first Mindanao leg at Caraga State University in Butuan City on August 7. The activity was spearheaded by Negros Oriental 2nd District Rep. Ma. Isabel “Maisa” L. Sagarbarria, vice chairperson of the House Committees on Appropriations and on Civil Service and Professional Regulation.
At the launch, Sagarbarria narrated that at the opening of the second regular session, “Speaker Bojie Dy emphasized… Congress will listen. Congress will learn. Congress will legislate.”
“Today, LegisHear puts that commitment into action. Bringing this initiative to the Visayas is significant because the realities of our communities are not always the same in Metro Manila. We have our own circumstances, our own challenges, and our own priorities.”
“And these realities must be heard and understood if we are to craft laws that truly serve our people,” added the lawmaker.
Central to the consultation were discussions on House Bill No. 9305, or the proposed KALINGA Act, and House Bill No. 7608 involving the Negros Oriental Regional Hospital—measures addressing concerns with direct impact on families and communities in Negros Oriental and elsewhere in the country.
Atty. Rene A. Delorino, Director II of the House Committee on Ways and Means, discussed the KALINGA bill, which seeks to establish a more systematic government framework for providing assistance to Filipinos during periods of high inflation, fuel and energy shocks, and other economic disruptions. Department of Health Negros Island Region Regional Director Dr. Razel Nikka Hao, on the other hand, discussed HB 7608, which seeks to convert the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital in Dumaguete City into a 500-bed specialty service hospital named the Negros Oriental Regional Hospital.
Joining Sagarbarria at the LegisHear Dumaguete City were House Secretary General Atty. Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil, Negros Oriental Rep. Janice Degamo, Rep. Emmanuel Iway, Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel “Chiquiting” T. Sagarbarria, Amlan Mayor Manuel Sycip, Tanjay City Mayor Jose Orlino, Pamplona Mayor Nikko Ramirez, Bais City Mayor Luigi Goñi, and Mabinay Mayor Jango Uy. Officials and representatives from national government agencies, including the DOH, DSWD, DILG, DA, DOLE, TESDA, DMW, CHED, DFA, BIR, COMELEC, PNP, NBI, PhilHealth, GSIS, Pag-IBIG, and PSA, also participated in the activity.
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