Camarines Sur 1st District Representative Tsuyoshi Anthony “Hori” Horibata, representing House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III at the opening of the 20th Manila Foods and Beverages Expo (MAFBEX) at the World Trade Center, highlighted the productivity of the House of Representatives and its focus on measures that support economic growth, create opportunities for businesses, and improve the lives of Filipino families.
Delivering a message on behalf of the Speaker, Horibata cited the House’s legislative accomplishments during the First Regular Session of the 20th Congress and emphasized the chamber’s commitment to producing results that benefit both the economy and the Filipino people.
“The House has chosen to concentrate on legislation that can make a real difference in people’s lives and help move the economy forward. Much of that work happens quietly and away from the spotlight,” the legislator said.
“Under House Speaker Bojie Dy’s leadership, the House approved 229 measures during the First Regular Session.”
The lawmaker noted that under Dy’s leadership, the House approved 229 measures during the First Regular Session that are now awaiting Senate action, including 66 national bills and 163 local measures.
The measures range from landmark economic reforms and social protection programs to infrastructure, education, healthcare, and local development initiatives designed to improve public services and expand opportunities across the country.
“These are not merely numbers on a legislative report. They represent better benefits for our students, more paved roads, improved government services, and expanded economic opportunities,” he said.
Addressing entrepreneurs, business owners, exhibitors, and industry stakeholders gathered at the annual exposition, Horibata said the House shares the same goal as the private sector: creating opportunities that improve the lives of ordinary Filipinos.
He stressed that “as representatives of the people, we understand that national progress and economic development is ultimately measured not by loud headlines or political debates, but by whether businesses are growing, jobs are being created, and families are seeing opportunities improve”.
Horibata revealed that the measures approved by the House cover critical areas such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, food security, government modernization, and economic development.
Among the major measures approved by the chamber are the proposed National Land Use Act, which seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for the sustainable use of land resources; amendments to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to strengthen support for poor households; the eBayad Act, which promotes digital government payments; and the Philippine Waste-to-Energy Act.
The House also advanced measures strengthening child online safety, institutionalizing a National Nutrition Program for Filipino children, enhancing the mandate of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority to attract investments and generate jobs, extending the validity of Professional Regulation Commission licenses, and promoting greater transparency and accountability in government through a proposed Right to Information law.
“Together, they represent concrete efforts to make it easier for businesses to grow, for investments to flow, and for Filipino families to enjoy a better quality of life,” Horibata explained.
Drawing a parallel between entrepreneurship and lawmaking, he said both require patience, discipline, and sustained work behind the scenes.
According to Horibata, “in many respects, legislation is much like entrepreneurship. Progress requires patience, discipline, and steady work behind the scenes. The public often sees only the finished product, but success is built on countless hours of preparation, coordination, and execution.”
“That is exactly how Speaker Bojie Dy has approached the work of the House: less focus on politics, more focus on results.”
“That is exactly how Speaker Bojie Dy has approached the work of the House: less focus on politics, more focus on results,” he added.
Horibata extended the regards of the Speaker, who expressed his appreciation to the organizers of MAFBEX and congratulated Worldbex Services International for staging the country’s premier food and beverage exposition for two decades.
