Romualdez represents Leyte’s 1st district
(VER NOVENO)
TACLOBAN CITY – The reelection of Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez as Speaker of the House for the 20th Congress received largely positive reactions from local officials in Eastern Visayas, who see it as a continuation of development projects and support for communities.
Romualdez, who was elected Speaker without opposition on Monday, July 28, is on his third and final term as district representative. His unchallenged victory is being viewed by many as a sign of his effective leadership and political influence in the Lower House.
Village officials Rose Emphasis and Lydia Bato, both barangay chairpersons from Tacloban City—Emphasis of Barangay 5-A and Bato of Barangay 66-A—welcomed the reelection, saying it bodes well for their constituents.
“With Speaker Romualdez back in office, the assistance (ayuda) for my constituents will definitely continue,” Bato said in an interview.
Emphasis echoed her support, noting that her village had already benefited from Romualdez’s help, including funding for a drainage system and the renovation of their barangay hall.
Northern Samar 2nd District Rep. Edwin Ongchuan also praised Romualdez’s reelection, citing its potential to accelerate key infrastructure projects in his district.
“For Northern Samar, the election of Congressman Romualdez as Speaker is a significant development that will ensure the implementation of Laoang Bridges 2 and 3, which are part of the Samar Pacific Coastal Road Phase 2 Project,” Ongchuan said in a statement. “With his leadership once again in place, we are confident this vital infrastructure will move forward.”
However, progressive groups such as the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) were more critical, saying the reelection was expected given Romualdez’s strong control over the majority in Congress.
“We would only be surprised if someone from the progressive bloc were elected. His reelection means nothing will change. Nothing will improve in the lives of the poor and working class. Life will only become harder for the masses while these same people stay in power,” said FDC Secretary-General Fara Diva Gamalo in an interview.
In the 20th Congress, four Eastern Visayas lawmakers opted to join the minority bloc headed by Eastern Samar native Rep. Marcelino Libanan of the 4Ps party-list. These include Samar Reps. Michael Reynolds Tan and Stephen James Tan, Northern Samar 1st District Rep. Niko Raul Daza, and Eastern Samar Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales, who is also Libanan’s son-in-law.
A total of 269 House members voted to retain Romualdez as Speaker.
In an interview on May 13, shortly after being proclaimed reelected, Romualdez vowed to bring more programs and services not only to his constituents in Leyte’s 1st district but also to other parts of Eastern Visayas.
Romualdez’s district includes Tacloban City and the municipalities of Palo, Babatngon, Tanauan, Santa Fe, San Miguel, Tolosa, and Alangalang.
(with report LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
