By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Saying that the Philippines is one of the beneficiaries of an $8.1 billion aid package from the US government intended for its Indo-Pacific allies, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Tuesday (23 April 2024) thanked the US House for the grant.
The leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives said the grant would benefit Filipinos amid escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
“This multifaceted assistance package reaffirms America’s steadfast commitment to promoting peace, prosperity, and security in the Indo-Pacific and beyond,” Romualdez said in a statement.
It was gathered that the US House of Representatives recently approved the Indo-Pacific Supplemental Appropriations Act, granting an $8.1 billion emergency aid package to Taiwan, the Philippines, and other allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
Reports said US Rep. Darrell Issa introduced an amendment to the bill encouraging the US State Department to allocate $500 million in Foreign Military Financing to the Philippines.
The US Senate is expected to pass the measure next week, sending it to US President Joe Biden to sign into law.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — As the Senate seemingly foot-dragged in approving the economic reforms in the 37-year-old Constitution, the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez passed the economic charter change (Cha-Cha) after only six days of marathon deliberations.
On Wednesday, the House Committee of the Whole approved via voice vote Resolutions of Both Houses No. 7 (RBH 7), which seeks to amend the 1987 Constitution by allowing increased foreign ownership of vital industries.
It was learned that the Charter amendments under RBH 7 provide for the easing of the 40%-foreign ownership limit on education, public utilities, and advertising sectors by adding the phrase “unless provided for by law.”
Former finance secretary Margarito Teves lauded the swift action of the House of Representatives.
“Foreign equity limitations in the Constitution are binding constraints to investors. As of 2022, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand have already surpassed us in terms of foreign direct investments,” Teves said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also agreed with Teves that the RBH 7 will pump in much-needed foreign capital to address low wages and increase the productivity of the country’s labor force.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — House Speaker Martin Romualdez welcomed the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) compliance with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify the implementation of RA 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.
FDA recently issued a statement reminding establishments to follow Administrative Order No. 2012-0007 Part VI Section 3.1.
It stated that the 20 percent discount and VAT exemption can be used on generic and branded drugs, including Influenza and Pneumococcal vaccines.
The said discount also covers the vitamins and minerals supplements prescribed by the doctor to prevent and cure patients’ illnesses.
“Many of our seniors and PWDs need to regularly purchase supplements or vitamins to maintain their health and strengthen their resistance to diseases, so it’s only fitting to include these in the discounted items as well,” Romualdez said.
Earlier, Romualdez ordered the conduct of an investigation to see if establishments comply with giving discounts to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable sectors.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — “Wala kayong pakialam sa PI!’
This was the terse reply of Speaker Martin Romualdez on Friday to senators’ “very toxic rhetoric” against him and the House of Representatives in connection with the ongoing signature campaign for People’s Initiative (PI) to amend the 1987 Constitution
In a press conference, Romualdez zeroed in on the sluggish performance of the upper chamber in passing the priority legislation of the Marcos Jr. administration.
“Tapos na ang trabaho ng House of Representatives. Tapos na lahat ng assignment. Iyong senador, hindi pa tapos. Tapusin niyo ang trabaho niyo. Naghihintay ang mga Pilipino. Kadugay (you’re slow),” Romualdez said in exasperation.
“Kadugay” is the Visayan term for overdue.
The Speaker from Leyte was asked by reporters why the scheduled Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting on Thursday (January 25) was postponed.
Romualdez cited the speedy House approval of most of the priority bills of the administration, with only four pending as of this month.
Ironically, Romualdez’s cousin, Senator Imee Marcos, has accused him of going against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s wishes not to pursue PI.
She also alleged that the Speaker was the “brains” behind the PI move.
“Wala kayong pakialam sa PI (people’s initiative),” Romualdez responded. “Trabaho ‘yan ng taumbayan. Ang Congress at senator, ang trabaho, legislation. PI is power of the people,” Romualdez retorted.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Imee Marcos disclosed that House Speaker Martin Romualdez harbored resentment towards her for supporting the Duterte camp.
“Si Speaker, alam ko may tampo sa akin mula pa noong October. Bakit ako kumakampi sa mga Duterte? Sabi ko, hindi ako kumakampi. Sa akin lang, kasamahan natin ‘yan, kaalyado natin ‘yan, higit sa lahat, kaibigan na wala namang ginagawang masama. Bakit natin aawayin?” Marcos stated.
“Nasa kasagsagan noong October nung confidential ek-ek, tsaka ICC—lahat ng issues sa mag-amang Duterte. Sabi ko nga, bakit natin inaaway? Di ko ma-gets,” the senator added.
Marcos, however, clarified that she has not harbored ill feelings towards Romualdez, emphasizing that they are merely performing their duties.
“Trabaho lang ito, hindi naman ako galit sa kanya. Ang problema talaga, hindi kami magkasundo sa pananaw, at hindi ako naniniwala na ang pinakaimportanteng bagay sa buhay ng Pilipino ngayon ay ang pagbabago ng Konstitusyon. Hindi ‘yun ang pinagaabalahan ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino,” she remarked.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA – Following the proposal of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez that the Maharlika Investment Corporation should consider investing in the country’s main grid operator, MIC president and CEO (Chief Executive Officer) Rafael Consing Jr. has disclosed that the management of the country’s first sovereign wealth fund is willing to invest into the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to upgrade its systems.
Romualdez floated the idea after Panay Island was hit by a massive power outage earlier this week due to multiple power “trippings” in the area.
“Kung titingnan po natin yung transmission ng grid, when you got a significant amount of renewable power going into the grid that creates volatility in NGCP. There’s a need to ensure that significant amount of auxiliary services to back up the grid and that requires a significant amount of capital, and that’s where MIC can help,” Consing revealed in an interview with CNN Philippines.
He added that the NGCP has funds for upgrades but may not be enough due to the rapid increase in the generation of renewable power that’s coming in, which in turn causes volatility in the grid.
“I think there is capital out there for them to be able to deploy but I don’t think it’s enough and that’s basically where we can come in and provide support,” Consing quipped.
He explained that the NGCP needs a “substantial amount of capital” to upgrade.
“NGCP is a very profitable organization, the backbone of our electricity ecosystem. It generates a significant amount of cash flow,” Consing assured.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Sunday said that the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is ready to help all Filipinos.
“Ang administrasyon ng ating mahal na Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ay handang tumulong sa lahat ng nangangarap at kumikilos para sa mas magandang buhay. Ito po ang pangako ng Bagong Pilipinas – isang nagkakaisang pamahalaan na hindi naghihintay,” he said during the commencement of Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) in Iloilo.
The BPSF is expected to assist 100,000 residents in the province.
Romualdez said that the government branches will be assisting the residents on their essential needs.
“Halos lahat ng inyong pangangailangan — sa kalusugan, kabuhayan, trabaho, pag-aaral — narito po ngayon sa Serbisyo Fair,” he said.
It is the 9th Serbisyo caravan established nationwide.
The BPSF is the country’s biggest service caravan aimed at providing major government services to less fortunate Filipinos in various communities across the country, featuring the government’s flagship programs.
(AI/MNM)
In cooperation with the office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, a cash assistance and rice Distribution (CARD) program took place on Saturday (11 November 2023) in Barangay 129, Caloocan City.
Caloocan City’s 2nd District Representative Mitch Cajayon-Uy said around 2,500 beneficiaries each received P2,000 cash assistance from DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
(Benjie Cuaresma/ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
THE DAY AFTER the China Coast Guard (CCG) rammed a Philippine resupply boat off Ayungin Shoal within the Philippine exclusive economic zone, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez lost no time in assailing the “mythical Red Dragon” while Vice President Sara Duterte, who would always portray herself as a patriot, was eerily silent.
And so was his father, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte who visited China in July and met with Xi Jinping without even informing his successor President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as a matter of elementary courtesy.
Oh, before I forget that not-so-secret meeting in China’s capital Beijing was reportedly between “old friends” and the seemingly invincible Chinese leader supposedly asked FPRRD to continue promoting “friendly cooperation” between the two countries.
On the other hand, Romualdez on Monday, October 23, assailed China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea.
He called on China to adhere to maritime laws to ensure the safety of all parties concerned.
“Such actions not only jeopardized the lives of those onboard but also threatened regional peace and stability,” Romualdez stressed.
Again, nary a whimper from the Dutertes.
They seem to be peacefully sleeping inside their air-conditioned rooms.
Yes, I dare say only the hopelessly idiots will believe that their idol is sleeping inside a “moskitero” (mosquito net).
And the universe may forbid that if ever Inday becomes president, maybe we all have to learn China’s national language Mandarin that she fluently delivered in a videotaped message to greet the People’s Republic of China for its 73rd founding anniversary last year.
Now, will we allow our Lupang Hinirang to become China’s province?
(ai/mnm)
Image Courtesy of: House of Representatives of the Philippines (Facebook Page)
By: Junex Doronio Column
FIRST, HE LED the raid on the warehouses of gluttonous rice hoarders and now he is set to persuade the capitalists manufacturing canned goods and other essential food products to moderate their greed in the spirit of upcoming Christmas which is celebrated by Pinoys as early as September or the beginning of “ber” months.
“We will attempt to convince them to at least postpone their plans, if there are any, until after Christmas in the spirit of the Yuletide season. Masyadong mabigat sa bulsa ang sabay-sabay na pagtaas ng mga bilihin kasabay ng pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo,” PBBM’s first cousin Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said.
It is not really far-fetched that some “profit-starved” capitalists who have no bleeding heart for the poor will take advantage of the oil price hikes and justify another increase in the costs of canned goods and other processed foods.
This time, the ordinary wage earners whose take-home pay can barely feed their family may have to resort to “toyo’t mantika” meals if ever the price of the cheapest sardines will be jacked up as a result of the series of oil price hikes.
With this scenario, Romualdez is seriously planning to convince food manufacturers to postpone until after Christmas their plans to increase prices of their products.
“Nauunawaan naman namin na maging sila ay apektado. But we will appeal to their sense of compassion and ask them if they can find a way to manage until Christmas,” Romualdez stressed, referring to the food manufacturers.
He added that he will also conduct a dialogue with supermarket associations to hear and consider their concerns.
The House Speaker, however, pointed out that the PBBM administration is doing its best to alleviate the situation of the people, “but what we are experiencing is a world crisis.”
“That’s why various agencies are ready to provide assistance because the government also feels the people’s predicaments,” Romualdez further said.
It can be recalled that last August 30, in response to complaints against rice hoarding, Romualdez led the Bureau of Customs (BOC) operatives in another round of surprise inspection of rice warehouses in Bulacan.
An estimated P519 million worth of imported rice and local palay were discovered sitting in four different warehouses in two Bulacan towns.
Prior to this raid, Romualdez also joined the BOC operatives in closing down three warehouses in Bulacan storing P505 million worth of suspected smuggled rice from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand during their operations last Aug. 24.
Many Visayans have expressed high hopes that another Visayan will succeed PBMM as the country’s Chief Executive and continue the legacy of a compassionate and strong leadership.
Romualdez hails from Leyte and could be the first Waray to become the country’s fourth Visayan president after Sergio Osmeña Sr. of Cebu, Manuel Acuña Roxas of Capiz and Carlos Polistico Garcia of Bohol.
Who knows?
As Ecclesiastes 9:11 of the Holy Bible said: “The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.” (ai/mnm)
Texto at bidyo ni Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Lumabas na mas marami ang hindi pabor sa ginawang pag-donate ni Speaker Martin Romualdez ng $1 million sa Harvard matapos na gawing regular curriculum ang wikang Tagalog sa Estados Unidos dahil, anila, mas maraming mag-aaral ang nangangailangan ng tulong pang-edukasyon sa bansa.
Pormal itong inanunsiyo noong Abril sa Harvard U sa Cambridge, Massachusetts kung saan personal na dumalo si Speaker Romualdez at nagbigay ng talumpati ng pagtanggap at pasasalamat.
Sinabi niya na ang pagkakataong ito ay maituturing na isang “great national pride.”
Dinaluhan din ng ilang miyembro ng Pinoy organizations sa Amerika ang okasyon ngunit lingid sa kaalaman ng lahat ay nagbigay umano ng $1M na donasyon ang “Gentleman from Leyte” na puntirya umano ang pagkapangulo sa darating na 2028 national elections.
Pumutok ang balita tungkol sa $1M donation ni Speaker kamakailan at nalathala pa ito sa Inquirer.net base sa isang ulat mula rin sa isang digital o online newspaper na nakabase sa Amerika at kaalyado ng Inquirer.
Ngunit dahil asawa ang kapatid ni Speaker ng may-ari ng Inquirer ay binaklas din agad ang naturang istorya.
Gayunpaman, nagsaliksik ang Maharlika NuMedia tungkol dito at nagsagawa rin ng live interviews sa ilang guro at pribadong indibidwal.
Matutunghayan ang mga video interviews dito sa ilang mga nakapanayam ng Maharlika NuMedia tungkol sa isyung ito. (ai/mnm)
VP and Education Secretary Sara Duterte (left) and Sen. Imee Marcos (right). (Photo courtesy of the Kahimyang Project)
IN A SURPRISING TWIST in the political arena, Senator Imee Marcos openly chided her perceived “BFF’ (best friends forever) in Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte for keeping 433 security personnel ostensibly willing to take the bullet for the country’s second-highest official.
Senator Imee’s first shot at Inday Sara was not only surprising but also unexpected since the two “Alpha females” are publicly close, politically and personally.
In fact, VP Sara Duterte had revealed that it was Senator Imee Marcos who persuaded her to run for the second highest post in the country and not Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez who many believe was the one called “tambaloslos” by the feisty VPES (Vice President and Education Secretary) after she tendered her irrevocable resignation as a member of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party, which she ran under in 2022 polls.
“Ang tambaloslos kasi sa Bisaya pwede mo siyang i-interpret na joke and pwede mo rin siyang i-interpret na pagmumura, and pwede mo siyang i-interpret na pang iinsulto,” Inday Sara explained.
Romualdez, a first-degree cousin of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr., is the party president of the Lakas-CMD which has 71 members at the House of Representatives composed of 316 legislators and only one member at the Senate.
The gentleman from Leyte just ignored what some political analysts called an “unstatesmanlike” remark made by SWOH (Sara without an H).
Collins Dictionary defines unstatesmanlike as “not resembling or befitting a political leader whose wisdom, integrity, etc. win great respect.”
Of course, the House Speaker and Senator Imee are also first-degree cousins.
By the way, reliable sources said that Imee is actually gunning for the mayoral seat of Manila, the country’s capital.
That’s why Imee allegedly bought a one-hectare property in Sta. Mesa from former President and ex-Manila Mayor Erap Estrada to prepare for the 2025 mayoralty race in Manila.
If Imee wins as Manila mayor in 2025, this could be a big boost to her cousin Martin’s presidential ambition and may derail Sara’s march to Malacañang in 2028.
Apparently recognizing the immense popularity of Inday Sara who would be a shoo-in if presidential elections were held today, some political operators think that the issues of being abusive in power like having 433 “bodyguards” and the millions of pesos of so-called confidential funds could pull her down.
It can be recalled that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) justified Inday Sara’s creation of the VPSPG (Vice President Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) in June 2022.
The OVP said it is necessary to have a team independent from the Presidential Security Group (PSG) that will protect future vice presidents in case of political differences with the President.
The VPSPG “will inevitably perform even when the Vice President and the President face the misfortune of having a relationship strained or broken by political differences,” just like what had happened between former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and then Vice President Leni Robredo.
This early, signs of cracks in the UniTeam are showing with PBBM getting closer to PH’s old ally the United States in asserting the Philippine sovereignty versus China while Sara is ominously silent on Chinese bullying.
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to discern that eventually, PBBM will endorse his cousin Martin Romualdez as the administration standard bearer for the 2028 presidential race.
As they say, blood is thicker than water.
Abangan ang susunod na kabanata.
(ai/mnm)