House Speaker Dy opens 2nd Regular Session, vows new standard of public service

House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III on Monday opened the Second Regular Session of Congress with a vow to deliver a new standard of public service.

Dy said every Filipino—from parents and teachers to students, workers, entrepreneurs, public officials, and ordinary citizens—has the duty to restore the country’s moral foundations through everyday acts of integrity, responsibility, and love of country.

“Ang pinakamalaking panganib po ay kapag hinayaan nating mawala ang ating mga pagpapahalaga at pagkalinga sa isa’t isa. When we stop caring for our fellow Filipino. Huwag po tayong mapagod umunawa. Huwag po tayong mapagod tumulong sa ating kapwa," Dy said.

“We are all accountable. To ourselves, and to each other," he added.

Dy said the House under his leadership was able to pass measures which are responsive to the people’s needs, such as the anti-oil crisis bill Komprehensibong Alalay sa Livelihood, Inflation, Negosyo at Goods Assistance o KALINGA Act.

“Dahil sa pagtutulungan at pagkakaisa ng inyong mga kinatawan at ng ating mga kawani, nakapagpasa tayo ng 163 bills, kabilang ang 26 LEDAC priority bills," he added.

Among the measures approved during the First Regular Session were reforms strengthening the National Nutrition Program, amendments to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), education reforms expanding Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE), amendments to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, and the Presidential Merit Scholarship Program. The House likewise approved 26 Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) priority measures.

“Sa ating Second Regular Session, itutuloy natin ang pagtatrabaho para maisulong ang mga repormang direktang tutugon sa mga pang-araw-araw na suliranin ng ating mga kababayan," he daid.

"Prayoridad nating maipasa ang Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment Act upang mapababa ang presyo ng bigas at mapalakas ang suporta sa ating mga magsasaka; ang mga amyenda sa Universal Health Care Act upang maging dekalidad at abot-kamay ang serbisyong pangkalusugan; ang CADENA Act upang mas maging bukas at transparent ang paggamit ng pondo ng bayan; at ang Cybersecurity Act, which aims to protect every Filipino from the threats of the Digital Space,” he added.

House Assistant Minority Leader Perci Cendaña of Akbayan, for his part, said that President Marcos, Jr.'s efforts are not enough and are not felt at this point.

"Today, the President will deliver his second to the last State of the Nation Address (SONA). Opportunity ito ng mamamayan to measure his accomplishments. Pero nitong nakaraang apat na taon: tinimbang siya, ngunit kulang," he said in a statement.

"The President's indecisiveness and weak leadership has hampered efforts to solve the problems that haunt our people. Naging kapos ang tugon ng kanyang administrasyon sa pagsupil sa korapsyon, pagbigay ng konkretong solusyon sa kakarampot na kita at nagtataasang mga bayarin, at paglikha ng disenteng trabaho at hanapbuhay para sa lahat," he added.

In closing, Cendaña said the public's patience is running out with two years left of the President's term.

"Last two minutes na ito ng administrasyon. We need action and results. Ubos na ang pasensya ng taumbayan," he added. —AOL, GMA News