Manila 6th District Representative Benny Abante Jr. said the majority public satisfaction with district representatives shows that the House of Representatives continues to perform its legislative and constituency duties even as it fulfills its constitutional responsibilities in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Abante made the statement following the latest OCTA Research Tugon ng Masa survey showing that nearly two in three Filipinos, or 64 percent, believe their district representative is doing a good job representing their constituency in the House. Only 27 percent disagreed, while nine percent were undecided.
“Two in three Filipinos, or 64%, believe their district representative is doing a good job representing their constituency in the House.”
“The House has demonstrated that it can fulfill its constitutional duty in the impeachment proceedings while continuing to legislate, scrutinize the national budget, and respond to the everyday needs of our constituents,” the veteran legislator said.
“Hindi dahilan ang impeachment upang mapabayaan namin ang iba pang tungkulin ng Kamara. Kasabay ng aming paghahangad ng katotohanan at pananagutan, patuloy kaming gumagawa ng mga batas at naglilingkod sa aming mga Distrito,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
He said the survey results belie claims that the impeachment process has distracted the House from its broader responsibilities or prevented lawmakers from attending to the concerns of the public.
“Accountability and legislation are not competing responsibilities. Both are part of our constitutional mandate, and the Filipino people rightly expect us to perform both with diligence, fairness, and integrity,” said the chairperson of the House Committee on Human Rights.
Abante noted that satisfaction with district representatives constituted a majority across all major geographic areas, reaching 68 percent in the Visayas, 65 percent in Mindanao, 63 percent in Balance Luzon, and 60 percent in the National Capital Region.
He credited Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III for keeping the chamber focused on its work while ensuring that it does not shirk from its difficult constitutional duties.
“The Speaker has consistently reminded us to remain focused on our work and let our performance speak for itself. Under his leadership, the House has shown that it can confront a matter as serious as impeachment without allowing the rest of its work to come to a standstill,” Abante said.
“Ang pananagutan ay hindi sagabal sa paglilingkod.”
“Ang pananagutan ay hindi sagabal sa paglilingkod. Bahagi ito ng paglilingkod. But even as we pursue accountability, our constituents must continue to see and feel that their representatives are working for them,” he added.
Abante said the House continues to deliberate on priority legislation and exercise oversight over government agencies while keeping its consideration of the proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 on schedule.
The House Committee on Appropriations completed its agency-level budget hearings as scheduled on September 8, clearing the way for plenary deliberations. The chamber remains on track to approve the General Appropriations Bill on third reading by October 9.
“Natapos sa takdang panahon ang paghimay sa mga panukalang budget ng mga ahensya, at ngayon ay tutungo na tayo sa plenaryo. This is concrete proof that the House remains focused and productive even while carrying out its responsibilities in the impeachment proceedings,” he noted.
“Hindi tumitigil ang trabaho ng Kamara. We can pursue accountability, pass meaningful legislation, scrutinize the national budget, and serve our constituents at the same time. That is what the Constitution requires of us, and that is what the Filipino people deserve,” Abante concluded.
