Leyte First District Rep. Martin Romualdez has informed President Rodrigo Duterte of his plan to run for House Speaker and to complete the President’s unfinished legislative agenda, stressing last week at a media forum that the House Speaker must share the President’s vision in order to properly lead the administration coalition in the House.
“When you aspire for Speaker (of the House), you represent the majority coalition of the administration,” he said.
“If you think you share a common voice (with the President), you must confront the legislative agenda of the administration,” added Romualdez, who confirmed that he was one of the candidates for the Speakership two days after the elections were held on May 13.
Romualdez, who obtained his law degree from the University of the Philippines and also has a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Cornell, said members of the party-list bloc in Congress would play a crucial part in the passage of the reforms being pushed by the President.
“If you think you share a common voice (with the President), you must confront the legislative agenda of the administration.”
“The party-list bloc is our partner for change and reforms to carry the speedy passage of President Duterte’s legislative agenda,” said Romualdez.
“You have to remember that the party-list group represents many sectors and marginalized sectors, and they represent the sectors that are not left behind. That is why this group is important,” added the solon.
Romualdez likewise vowed to consult and listen to the members of the House, emphasizing that “a good Speaker is one who listens more than he speaks.”
“A good Speaker is one who listens more than he speaks.”
“Imbes na magdikta, dapat ay makinig at maging responsive at dapat mas consultative and sensitive to parochial concerns. You have to be generous of your time and be the Congressmen’s Congressman.”
Romualdez is considered one of the frontrunners for the Speakership. Davao Mayor Sara Duterte has acknowledged his support for the President’s reform agenda while thumbing down the reconciliation efforts of ousted House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez as these were “deceiving and utterly lacked sincerity.”
She has also been cool to the bid of Taguig First District Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, who she claimed threatened to break up “the group” if she endorsed someone else for the House’s top post.