Romualdez: Congress to help cut poverty by half

MANILA, Philippines — Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez yesterday assured the country’s economic managers that Congress would act swiftly on President Duterte’s priority bills to help fulfill his vision of transforming the country into an upper-middle income economy by 2022.

“I have talked with the President’s economic team and I relayed to them the commitment of House leaders to help in crafting laws aligned with the Philippine Development Plan,” Romualdez said.

“We have also agreed to establish a clear communication line and tighten our coordination so that House leaders and the economic team are in sync on what legislative measures need to be prioritized in the 18th Congress,” he added.

The Leyte lawmaker said he would reiterate such congressional commitment when he attends tomorrow’s pre-state of the nation (SONA) event at the PICC Reception Hall in Pasay City.

“I was personally invited by (Finance) Secretary (Sonny) Dominguez to the pre-SONA event so I am thankful to be given the opportunity to reiterate our Congress leaders’ commitment to the swift approval of the President’s priority economic bills,” Romualdez said.

“I really appreciate that the economic team led by Secretary Dominguez has responded positively to the hand of friendship and cooperation which I extended to them on behalf of Congress leaders,” he added.

Romualdez noted that the President’s economic bills were among the measures included in the priority list which was agreed upon by the multi-party caucus of House leaders at Seda Hotel last Tuesday.

The caucus drew the attendance of 40 House leaders from various political parties and influential blocs in the 18th Congress, including the PDP-Laban, Lakas-CMD, Nationalist People’s Coalition, Nacionalista Party, Liberal Party and the Party-List Coalition.

Romualdez said House leaders were unanimous in supporting the President’s legislative agenda and agreed to act swiftly for the passage of laws needed to propel the country’s economic growth to new heights.