Dumaguete city: The House of Representatives on Friday launched the Visayas leg of LegisHear in Dumaguete City, expanding its nationwide public consultation program as it pushes for faster, quality, and more inclusive lawmaking.
According to Philippines News Agency, in a video message to participants, House Speaker Faustino 'Bojie' Dy III said the consultation at Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) reflected the commitment of the House to not only move legislation faster, but also improve the quality of laws through early and meaningful participation by the people who would ultimately be affected by them. 'Bawat makabuluhang batas ay dapat magsimula sa tinig ng sambayanang Pilipino (Every meaningful law should originate from the voice of the people),' he said.
The Visayas launch came as the House maintained a brisk legislative pace during only the third week of the Second Regular Session of the 20th Congress, approving on third and final reading several major measures this week, including bills strengthening the country's cybersecurity defenses, expanding access to digital academic resources, improving the governance of local universities and colleges, providing additional support for farmers and fisherfolk, revising the Cooperative Code, and establishing rules on civil liability and compensation for nuclear damage.
But Dy stressed that speed alone would not define the work of the House, saying that the ultimate goal is to ensure that each law passed is sound and of high quality. LegisHear represents the inclusivity component of that approach by bringing congressional consultations outside Metro Manila and giving Filipinos in different regions an opportunity to learn about proposed legislation, ask questions, and directly provide their views and experiences.
The Dumaguete event marked LegisHear's first stop in the Visayas, following its launch at Isabela State University in Echague, Isabela on July 31, and its first Mindanao leg at Caraga State University in Butuan City on Aug. 7. The activity was spearheaded by Negros Oriental 2nd District Rep. Ma. Isabel Sagarbarria, vice chairperson of the House Committees on Appropriations and on Civil Service and Professional Regulation.
Sagarbarria told participants of Dy's vow at the opening of the second regular session, that 'Congress will listen; Congress will learn; and Congress will legislate." "Today, LegisHear puts that commitment into action. Bringing this initiative to the Visayas is significant because the realities of our communities are not always the same in Metro Manila. We have our own circumstances, our own challenges, and our own priorities," she said. "And these realities must be heard and understood if we are to craft laws that truly serve our people," she added.
Central to the consultation were discussions on House Bill (HB) 9305, or the proposed KALINGA Act, and HB 7608 involving the Negros Oriental Regional Hospital - measures addressing concerns with direct impact on families and communities in Negros Oriental and elsewhere in the country. Rene Delorino, Director II of the House Committee on Ways and Means, discussed the KALINGA bill, which seeks to establish a more systematic government framework for providing assistance to Filipinos during periods of high inflation, fuel and energy shocks, and other economic disruptions. Department of Health Negros Island Region Regional Director Dr. Razel Nikka Hao, on the other hand, discussed HB 7608, which seeks to convert the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital in Dumaguete City into a 500-bed specialty service hospital named the Negros Oriental Regional Hospital.
Joining Sagarbarria at the LegisHear Dumaguete City were House Secretary General Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil, Negros Oriental Reps. Janice Degamo and Rep. Emmanuel Iway, Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel 'Chiquiting' Sagarbarria, Amlan Mayor Manuel Sycip, Tanjay City Mayor Jose Orlino, Pamplona Mayor Nikko Ramirez, Bais City Mayor Luigi Go±i, and Mabinay Mayor Jango Uy. Officials and representatives from various national government agencies also participated in the activity.
