A Congress Aligned with a National Vision: The Story of the 19th Congress

WHEN the 19th Congress opened its first session, the country stood at a crossroads. The nation was still emerging from the long shadow of the pandemic, economic recovery was fragile, and the public's trust in institutions remained uncertain. The House of Representatives had a choice: remain business as usual or rise to the moment with purpose, focus, and unity.

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Under the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, the House chose the harder but more meaningful path.

From the outset, Speaker Romualdez envisioned a House not merely of politicians, but of public servants—a legislative chamber that listened to the people, learned from their struggles, and legislated with their needs in mind. He reoriented the institution toward performance, professionalism, and proximity to the Filipino public. And he anchored its mission on two national foundations: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s Bagong Pilipinas governance agenda, and the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.

This alignment was neither ceremonial nor rhetorical—it was practical, strategic, and ultimately, effective.

Throughout its term, the 19th Congress translated national vision into enforceable, actionable law. By the end of its run, it had passed 32 out of 64 measures under the Common Legislative Agenda, and 27 of the 28 priority bills endorsed by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). These included landmark laws that touched every corner of Filipino life: food affordability, digital transformation, universal healthcare, public finance reform, national defense, and job creation.

But the real measure of success was not in numbers alone. It was in the House's renewed identity as a true House of the People.