Isabela Representative Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Wednesday was formally elected as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, pledging reform, transparency, and a people-first approach to governance.
Addressing members of the chamber, Dy expressed both gratitude and humility as he thanked them for their support.
“Ako po’y lubos na nagpapasalamat sa mga kasama kong mambabatas sa House of Representatives sa paghalal ninyo sa akin bilang Speaker. Hindi ko po ito inasahan. Matapos ang ilang dekadang paninilbihan bilang lingkod-bayan mula Kabataang Barangay hanggang gobernador ng Isabela, inakala ko na ang susunod na yugto ng aking buhay ay para sa aking pamilya. Ngunit ibang daan ang inilatag ng ating Panginoon. Dinala Niya akong muli dito—sa Kongreso—upang mas higit pang palawakin ang paglilingkod,” said the new House leader.
The newly elected Speaker acknowledged the frustration of Filipinos over corruption and inefficiency, vowing to put public interest above political self-interest.
“Panahon nang ituon natin ang ating paningin sa pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan.”
According to Dy, “malinaw sa akin na higit na matimbang ang aking pananagutang itaguyod ang ating Saligang Batas at unahin ang kapakanan ng nakararami. Hindi ko hahayaan ang sinuman sa miyembro ng 20th Congress na gamitin ang Kongreso para sa personal na interes. Panahon nang ituon natin ang ating paningin sa pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan. Sila ang rason kung bakit tayo naririto. Wag sana tayong makalimot. Sila ang unahin natin bago ang pansariling kapakanan.”
He called on his colleagues to unite behind a common mission, stressing that he would need their support to deliver meaningful reforms and restore the credibility of the House.
“Sa mga kasamahan ko sa Kongreso: magtatagumpay lamang tayo kung tayo’y magkakaisa upang makamit ang hangaring ito. Buo ang paniniwala ko na mas nakakarami sa ating mga kasamahan ang nangangarap at handang mag-trabaho nang tapat para mapabuti ang ating bansa. Hindi ko po magagawa ito nang mag-isa. Kailangan ko po kayo. Kailangan po natin ang bawat isa,” stressed Dy.
Dy also extended his thanks to outgoing Speaker Martin Romualdez, noting his role in ensuring continuity and cooperation. “Kaya taos-puso ko ring ipinapaabot ang aking pasasalamat sa ating dating Speaker sa kanyang bukas-palad na pakikipagtulungan para maisakatuparan ang isang maayos na transisyon at mga natatanging hangaring ito.”
Looking ahead, the new Speaker urged urgency and collective resolve in addressing the issues confronting the nation.
The newly elected Speaker acknowledged the frustration of Filipinos over corruption and inefficiency, vowing to put public interest above political self-interest.
Dy pointed out that “ngayon na ang oras. Hindi bukas. Hindi sa susunod na araw. Sama-sama tayong bumangon. Sama-sama tayong kumilos. Sama-sama tayong maglingkod… Sa bagong Kongreso, ipaparamdam natin ang tunay na malasakit. Ipapamalas natin ang tunay na paglilingkod na nakatutok nang buo sa pag-angat ng buhay ng sambayanang Pilipino. Walang ibang agenda. Walang ibang interes. Kapakanan ng Pilipino ang simula, gitna at dulo – wala nang iba.”
“Sa lahat ng ito, hindi tayo hahatulan sa ating mga salita, kundi sa ating gawa. Hindi tayo huhusgahan sa ating mga pangako, kundi sa ating pagtupad. Sama-sama nating isulong ang isang bagong Pilipinas na matatag, marangal, at nagkakaisa!”
Dy brings to the speakership more than four decades in public service. His career began at the barangay level as KB Federation Chairman and ABC President, before serving as Vice Mayor and then Mayor of Cauayan City in 1992. Under his leadership, Cauayan earned recognition for peace and order, cleanliness, and effective governance.
Elected as Representative of Isabela’s 3rd District in 2001, Dy served three consecutive terms before being elected Governor in 2010. As governor, he oversaw the development of Isabela as a national leader in agriculture, cooperative development, and disaster resilience, consistently earning the DILG’s Seal of Good Local Governance, three consecutive Most Outstanding Governorship Awards, and Hall of Fame citations for anti-red tape reforms and corn production.
After completing three terms as governor, he served as Vice Governor of Isabela from 2019 to 2025, earning multiple awards including Vice Governor of the Year. He returned to Congress in 2025 as Representative of Isabela’s 6th District.
Throughout his decades in government, Dy has received numerous honors, including the Gawad Kalasag for disaster risk reduction, the National Rice Achievers Award, and recognition as one of the country’s most business-friendly executives.
Dy took up economics at the University of Santo Tomas. He is married to Mary Ann Arcega, with whom he has four children: Francis Faustino, Faustino IV, Faustino V, and Justin Faustino.
