Leaders of the House of Representatives said Wednesday that the chamber will support and strengthen the programs of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., particularly his initiatives for housing, water, and electricity.
Under the leadership of Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos of Ilocos Norte, House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms chairperson Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur, and Deputy Speakers Paolo Ortega V of La Union and Jay Khonghun of Zambales said the House will match the administration’s on-the-ground initiatives with measures that sustain affordability and widen access.
“Ang pabahay, kuryente, at tubig ay napakahalaga – ito ang pundasyon ng disenteng pamumuhay at matatag na ekonomiya (Housing, electricity, and water are very important – these are the foundations of decent living and a strong economy),” the members of the so-called “Young Guns” said in a joint statement.
“Bilang mga lider ng Kamara, sinusuportahan namin si Pangulong Marcos sa mga programang lumilikha ng trabaho, nagpapababa sa gastos ng pamilya, at nagpapalakas ng probinsya. Kasabay nito, titiyakin naming bawat piso ay napupunta sa tama at may malinaw na pananagutan (As House leaders, we support President Marcos’ programs that create jobs, reduce family expenses, and strengthen the provinces. At the same time, we will ensure that each peso will be properly spent and accounted for).”
The stalwarts of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) said the House will also ensure that its legislative agenda will support and strengthen the programs of the President, particularly his housing, water, and electricity initiatives for the Filipino people.
“Housing, water security, and affordable electricity are nation-building priorities. The House will make sure our legislative output strengthens these programs and protects their long-term impact,” they said.
The Young Guns said they fully support House Bill 2700, or the proposed “Free Electricity for Low-Consumption Households Act,” authored by Majority Leader Marcos, noting that it aligns with the President’s programs.
The measure seeks to institutionalize a Direct Government Subsidy that will fully cover the electricity bills of qualified households within a defined monthly threshold, while exempting the subsidized portion from the 12 percent value-added tax.
For the three House leaders, the approach ties together the administration’s programs on housing, irrigation, and power; deliver services on the ground, then sustain and broaden them through legislation, with clear accountability for every peso spent.
On Feb. 12, President Marcos led the inauguration of the rehabilitated Mahayag Dam in Zamboanga del Sur and the turnover of solar-powered pump irrigation projects (SPIPs) across the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Meanwhile, Marcos announced reforms meant to make electricity subsidies easier to access for low-income and marginalized families, while streamlining net-metering so households can install solar panels and sell excess power to the grid faster than before.
The President made the statement during the “Collective Response to Presidential Commitments in the Energy Sector,” held at the Meralco Theater in Ortigas on Feb. 14.
He also led the awarding of homes and assistance to beneficiaries of the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay Para Sa Pilipino (4PH) Program during the seventh anniversary celebration of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development at the Megawide Precast Plant in Taytay, Rizal on Feb. 16. (PNA)