As chair of this year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Philippines is in a pivotal position to advance regional solidarity amid global energy uncertainty. Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said Manila must exert efforts to push forward the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA) and ensure member states can support one another during petroleum supply…
The Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement chaired by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Tuesday (March 10) tackled all the 35 bills and resolutions on its agenda, reinforcing his “no backlog” policy in the committees he leads. Among those approved for committee report was Senate Bill No. 934, authored by Senator Jinggoy Estrada,…
Photo courtesy: Chiz Escudero facebook page The surge in unemployment to 2.96 million Filipinos in January 2026 has led Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero to press for urgent action to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), widely regarded as the backbone of the country’s economy that employs about two‑thirds of the national workforce. Citing the…
MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers are pushing for the swift enactment of a measure that would grant the President emergency powers to suspend excise taxes on petroleum products. The House Committee on Ways and Means recently approved a substitute bill consolidating 17 measures aimed at providing immediate relief to Filipinos as global oil markets face extreme…
Millions of homeless Filipinos living as informal settler families (ISFs) may soon receive a critical financial lifeline. House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, alongside Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, has introduced House Bill No. 7230 to establish a national rental housing subsidy program. This initiative seeks to bridge the gap between displacement and permanent relocation…
QUEZON CITY — The House Committee on Basic Education and Culture took a decisive step toward resolving the country’s education crisis on Monday by approving three landmark reform bills. Spearheaded by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and TINGOG Party-list Representatives Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, Andrew Julian K. Romualdez, and Jude A. Acidre, the measures target…
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez is calling for the formal institutionalization of the OFW Hospital, framing the move as a vital “thank you” to the migrant workers who keep the Philippine economy afloat. By pushing for House Bill No. 7227, Romualdez aims to transform temporary administrative orders into a permanent, world-class medical institution dedicated to…
Photo courtesy: DA Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has formally introduced House Bill (HB) No. 7663, a landmark piece of legislation designed to provide a P3,000 monthly pension alongside comprehensive life, accident, and disability insurance for the nation’s farmers. Titled the “Comprehensive Farmers’ Pension and Social Protection Act,” the measure aims to fill critical…
MANILA — Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez today called on members of the Lakas-CMD party to close ranks and accelerate the passage of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s priority bills. Romualdez emphasized that the party’s primary focus remains on translating the President’s vision into law through disciplined, cross-party cooperation and a unified front within the…
As thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) return to the Philippines following the holiday season, House Committee on Higher and Technical Education Chairperson Jude Acidre is calling on the Senate to prioritize the swift passage of the Bagong Balikbayan Act (HB 6643). This priority reintegration measure, principally authored by former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez…
