CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. highlighted the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez for setting the foundation of a productive House of Representatives in the 19th Congress through the passage before sine die adjournment of 33 out of 42 bills in the priority list of the administration.

Gonzales said Speaker Martin has created an atmosphere of certainty and trust. "His strong, compassionate leadership brought all of us together to work on a single vision: to pass measures focused on achieving a prosperous, inclusive, and resilient Philippines."

Gonzales, who represents the third district of Pampanga, expressed hope that with Romualdez's guidance, they will continue to uphold the oath swore to the Filipino people.

“Our record speaks for itself. We are comprehensively addressing the everyday issues our people face: from the high cost of commodities to unemployment and other economic challenges. We are focused on matters important to our people and the Marcos administration,” he stressed.

On the final week of the session, before sine die adjournment, the House passed two additional priority measures on the third reading -- the proposed Bureau of Immigration Modernization Act and the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act.

Other urgent bills that have been previously approved on the third and final reading included the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund, Magna Carta of Seafarers, E-Governance Act / E-Government Act, Negros Island Region, Virology Institute of the Philippines, Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act, National Disease Prevention Management Authority or Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Medical Reserve Corps, Philippine Passport Act; Internet Transaction Act / E-Commerce Law, Waste-to-Energy Bill; Free Legal Assistance for Police and Soldiers, Apprenticeship Act, Build-Operate-Transfer Law, Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, Valuation Reform, Eastern Visayas Development Authority, Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone, Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery, National Citizens Service Training Program, and National Government Rightsizing.

Most of the 33 House-approved priority bills are pending with the Senate.

A total of 8,426 bills and 1,098 resolutions were filed with the House during the first regular session of the 19th Congress. Of those, 567 were approved. The House processed a record 30 measures per session day.