Manila: Speaker Faustino 'Bojie' Dy III on Monday underscored the legislative achievements of the House of Representatives and announced an agenda focusing on alleviating the cost of living, enhancing healthcare, promoting transparency, and securing online protection for Filipinos at the opening of the Second Regular Session of the 20th Congress.
According to Philippines News Agency, Dy emphasized the House's commitment to addressing the everyday issues faced by ordinary Filipinos, highlighting the swift passage of key measures before the close of the First Regular Session aimed at easing the burden on Filipino families. Among these, the Comprehensive Livelihood, Inflation, Business, and Goods Assistance Act, also known as the KALINGA Act, was passed as a crucial legislative effort.
The House successfully passed 163 bills, including 26 Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) priority bills. Notable measures include reforms to the National Nutrition Program, amendments to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and education reforms to expand Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE), along with updates to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act and the Presidential Merit Scholarship Program.
Looking ahead, Dy stated that the House would prioritize legislation impacting the daily lives of Filipinos. Key areas of focus include the Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment Act to lower rice prices, amendments to the Universal Health Care Act to enhance healthcare services, the CADENA Act for increased transparency in public fund usage, and the Cybersecurity Act aimed at protecting Filipinos from digital threats.
Dy stressed that enacting legislation is insufficient without effective implementation that genuinely improves citizens' lives. He also called for a moral renewal among Filipinos, urging a return to core values of compassion, respect, faith, and solidarity.
He appealed to Filipinos to remain committed to helping one another and echoed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s Independence Day message. Dy highlighted the importance of Filipino resilience rooted in solidarity and compassion, urging citizens to engage in everyday acts of integrity and responsibility to restore the country's moral foundations.
Dy also called for stronger online protections against disinformation, noting Congress's focus on safeguarding Filipino families in the digital age. He referenced a Pulse Asia survey indicating that 85 percent of Filipino adults now use the Internet, with disinformation being a major concern among 72 percent of Filipinos.
The House has already approved significant legislation addressing online harms, such as the Digital Media Anti-False Information Act and the Child Online Safety and Protection Act of 2026. Dy highlighted House Bill 9965, the Children's Social Media Safety Act, which aims to restrict social media use by children below 13 years old and has been proposed as a LEDAC priority measure.
Protecting young Filipinos online and maintaining truth in public discourse are crucial to fortifying Philippine democracy, Dy concluded.
