Lawmakers from the so-called “supermajority” have renewed their commitment to support the leadership of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco as well as work for the speedy passage of priority legislations.
This emerged as Velasco gathered leaders of political parties and coalitions in a caucus Friday to forge unity in the chamber and set aside politics which had caused divisiveness especially during the speakership row last month.
Deputy Speaker and 1-Pacman Rep. Michael Romero said “the objective of the Speaker is to unite the House and move forward. We agreed to prioritize and expedite the legislative agenda of the President.”
Romero, head of the 54-member Party-List Coalition, Inc., cited proposed Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises or CREATE Act, Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer or FIST Act, Rural Agricultural and Fisheries Development Financing System Act, and the bill creating the Department of Overseas Filipinos as among the Palace-backed measures.
“We also agreed to legislate more COVID-19 measures to help our Filipino citizenry survive and recover from the pandemic,” Romero added.
Stalwarts of the ruling PDP-Laban, Nationalist People’s Coalition, Nacionalista Party, Liberal Party, National Unity Party and the Party-List Coalition were among those who attended the meeting.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers, member of Nacionalista Party who also attended the meeting, said the lawmakers also vowed to enact the 2021 national government budget soonest so to have it readied for the President’s signing before yearend.
Barbers also said the meeting “was also an opportunity for leaders and representatives of political parties and blocs to bond under the new leadership.”