The House of Representatives will focus on helping ordinary Filipinos by working on laws that address food, jobs, education, and public health during the 20th Congress.
Speaker Martin Romualdez said the House wants to bring the government closer to the people by aligning its goals with the priorities set by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his latest State of the Nation Address.
One of the top priorities is food security. The House will push for the RICE Act to ensure a steady supply of affordable rice and protect farmers from abuse. The Speaker also stressed the need to stop smuggling, hoarding, and price manipulation by improving law enforcement and reforming agriculture.
Plans also include expanding irrigation and harvest facilities, and modernizing agriculture to make it more profitable. Romualdez added that the House will include the “Walang Gutom Program” in the 2026 national budget, which will provide monthly electronic food credits to poor families.
Speaker Romualdez said the goal is to build an economy that lifts up the 99% of the population. He emphasized that lawmakers should fix systems that only benefit the rich and ensure that regular workers and families share in the country’s progress.
The House also plans to expand the ARAL Program and strengthen mental health support in schools.
For health care, the Speaker said the House will work for zero billing and no out-of-pocket expenses in all public hospitals. More health workers will be deployed to remote areas, and access to essential medicines will be improved.
Another top priority is peace and order. Romualdez said laws should not only stop crime but also ensure justice and opportunity for everyone.
He also promised to support defense modernization and disaster resilience, saying it’s important to protect not just the country’s land but also the lives of its people.
Speaker Romualdez supported the President’s call for full household electrification across the country by 2028. The House will provide funding to help achieve this goal.
On governance, the Speaker called for a more efficient and responsive bureaucracy. He said the House will pass laws to digitalize government services, remove red tape, and professionalize public service.
Speaker Romualdez urged lawmakers to make this Congress meaningful—not just by passing many laws, but by truly changing people’s lives. He reminded them that good laws mean nothing if they don’t help people in real life.
Finally, he called on his fellow lawmakers to show compassion in the laws they pass and to help rebuild the people’s trust in government.
