The Provincial Board of Canvassers for the province of Leyte, led by its chairperson, Atty. Ma. Goretti Caseñas-Cañas, proclaims Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez as the winning candidate for Representative of the 1st District of Leyte in the May 12, 2025 elections. The proclamation was held at the New Capitol Building in Palo, Leyte Tuesday, May 13, 2025. With the victory, Speaker Romualdez clinched his third consecutive term in the House and his sixth overall. Also in the photo are vice chairperson Atty. Arlene Cordovez and member-secretary Marisa Magan.
HOUSE Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez was officially proclaimed today as the winning candidate for Representative of Leyte’s 1st District following the May 12, 2025 midterm elections.
Running unopposed, Speaker Romualdez, also the president of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), secured his third consecutive term and sixth overall in the House of Representatives.
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Provincial Board of Canvassers, chaired by Atty. Ma. Goretti Caseñas-Cañas, officially confirmed the victory of Speaker Romualdez during its session Wednesday at the New Provincial Capitol in Palo, Leyte.
Following his proclamation, Speaker Romualdez expressed deep gratitude to the people of Leyte’s 1st District.
“Lubos po akong nagpapasalamat sa mga kababayan ko sa Leyte First District, lalo na sa Tacloban City, sa panibagong pagkakataon na maglingkod,” Speaker Romualdez said.
“Ito pong pagkapanalo ay hindi tagumpay ko, kundi tagumpay ng buong distrito natin—ng bawat pamilyang Waray na patuloy na nagtitiwala sa ating pamumuno. Sa tulong ninyo, mas lalakas pa ang tinig ng Leyte sa Kongreso. Mas marami tayong magagawa, mas marami tayong matutulungan,” he added.
As House Speaker, he has committed to pushing forward a legislative agenda that promotes inclusive development and economic resilience, while continuing to prioritize the needs of his constituents in Leyte.
“Tinitiyak ko po: hindi masasayang ang tiwala ninyo. Patuloy tayong maghahatid ng proyekto, programa, at malasakit sa bawat barangay, bawat tahanan. Ang Leyte First District ay patuloy na magiging modelo ng pagbangon, pag-unlad, at maayos na pamamahala,” Speaker Romualdez said.
Leyte’s first district encompasses Tacloban City and the municipalities of Palo, Alangalang, Babatngon, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tanauan and Tolosa.
“Ang Tacloban, bilang puso ng Eastern Visayas, ay mananatiling sentro ng ating mga plano. Mula imprastraktura hanggang serbisyong panlipunan, tuloy-tuloy ang pag-asenso,” Speaker Romualdez added.
Under the leadership of Speaker Romualdez, the House passed 75 national laws and 112 local laws, including 30 Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) priority measures, eight of which were in direct support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision for the country’s prosperity.
Speaker Romualdez has been instrumental in the passage of significant legislation, including the SIM Registration Act, the Maharlika Investment Fund and the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, among others.
Under the leadership of Speaker Romualdez, the House under the 19th Congress also conducted high profile congressional investigations, including the probe into alleged misuse of confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President; POGOs, illegal drugs, high prices of rice and other food items, and the increasing cost of electricity, among others.
He had also authored several laws that provided direct positive impact on the people of his district as well as the province of Leyte including the following:
• Republic Act No. 11567 – Renaming the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Tacloban City into Eastern Visayas Medical Center and Increasing Its Bed Capacity from 500 to 1,500
• Republic Act No. 11566 – Converting the Schistosomiasis Control and Research Hospital in Palo, Leyte into a General Hospital and Increasing Its Bed Capacity from 25 to 100
• Republic Act No. 10290 – Establishing a National High School in Tacloban City, to be Known as the Tacloban National High School
• Republic Act No. 10244 – Creating Two Additional Regional Trial Court Branches in the Province of Leyte
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he led efforts to enact emergency laws such as Bayanihan 1 and 2, which provided critical aid to millions of Filipinos.
As he prepares to continue his legislative work, Speaker Romualdez reaffirmed his dedication to serving the people of Leyte and contributing to national development.
“Bilang inyong kinatawan, ako po ay patuloy na magiging boses, sandigan, at lingkod ng bawat Waray. Padayon kita ha serbisyo. Padayon an Leyte!”
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