Latest news with #MartinRomualdez
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec: Yedda Romualdez to serve as Tingog partylist rep after 3rd nominee exit
Yedda Romualdez, wife of Speaker Martin Romualdez, will replace third nominee Marie Josephine Calatrava, who resigned from Tingog citing 'personal circumstances'. Former Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez will return to the House of Representatives (HOR) in the 20th Congress as she is set to take the third seat of Tingog Partylist following the exit of three of its nominees, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday. Romualdez, wife of Speaker Martin Romualdez, will replace third nominee Marie Josephine Calatrava, who resigned from Tingog citing 'personal circumstances'. Fourth nominee Alexis Yu and fifth nominee Paul Muncada likewise resigned as nominees following their election as party executive vice-president, and vice-president for internal affairs, respectively. According to Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia, the substitution is allowed under the Party-list System Act as Yedda is included in the list of nominees the party submitted to the poll body. 'Halimbawa, nag-resign si 1, papalit si number 2. Namatay si number 3, papalit si number 4. So long as di pa nauubos ang sinubmit satin,' he said. (If the first nominee resigned, the second will replace him. If the third nominee dies, the fourth nominee will replace him. As long as the replacing nominee is included in the names they submitted to us.) Tingog Partylist ranked third in Eleksyon 2025, securing three seats for the incoming 20th Congress. Yeddah is its sixth nominee while her son, Andrew Julian Romualdez, was named first nominee. 'Dapat si number 6 ang ipapalit and we have no discretion on that. Ito ay duly-submitted ng naturang partylist at duly-published by the commission,' said Garcia. (The sixth nominee will replace the third and we have no discretion on that. She is part of the duly-submitted names of the partylist.) 'Walang natanggap na disqualification or opposition or petition for disqualification sa sampu na yan therefore, intact ang listahan. Kahit hindi kami mag-issue ng certificate of proclamation, pwede na tanggapin ng HOR sapagkat na-proclaim na ang naturang party-list,' he added. (We did not receive any disqualification or opposition or petition for disqualification on the ten names and therefore, the list is intact. The HOR can proclaim her even without or certification as the partylist was already proclaimed.) — BAP, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Romualdez holds consultative meeting with Mindanao lawmakers
Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez, the presumptive Speaker for the 20th Congress, on Monday met with 16 lawmakers from Mindanao, including five from Davao Region, for a "wide-ranging dialogue." In a statement, Romualdez said he met the lawmakers in Butuan City, Surigao del Norte to discuss 'local development needs, national policy alignment, and shared legislative goals,' and hold a listening session for the lawmakers to raise urgent concerns, propose policy interventions, and ensure their advocacies are integrated into the national agenda. The Mindanao lawmakers he met with are: Jose 'Joboy' Aquino II (Butuan City) Dale Corvera (Agusan del Norte) Alfelito Bascug (Agusan del Sur) Adolph Edward Plaza (Agusan del Sur) Francisco Matugas (Surigao del Norte) Romeo Momo (Surigao del Sur) Alexander Ty Pimentel (Surigao del Sur) Kaka Bag-ao (Dinagat Islands) Lordan Suan (Cagayan de Oro City) Yevgeny Vicente 'Bambi' Emano (Misamis Oriental) Arlyn Ayon (SWERTE Party-list) Maria Carmen Zamora (Davao de Oro) Leonel 'Jhong' Ceniza (Davao de Oro) Nelson Dayanghirang Jr. (Davao Oriental) De Carlo 'Oyo' Uy (Davao del Norte) John Tracy Cagas (Davao del Sur) The lawmakers hail from the ruling party Lakas-CMD which is led by Romualdez, the Nacionalista Party, the National Unity Party, the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, and the Liberal Party, as well as an Independent. 'This forum is more than a gathering of colleagues—it is a reflection of our commitment to listening, learning, and legislating for the people. We are united not just by party lines, but by our shared duty to uplift every Filipino,' Romualdez said. The main topic of the meeting was the House-to-House Agenda, a seven-point framework that outlines the legislative priorities of the 20th Congress towards development: Food Security - supporting agricultural modernization and regional food systems to ensure accessible and affordable food; Clean Water Access - expanding infrastructure for safe and reliable water, especially in underserved areas; Affordable and Stable Electricity - promoting energy reforms and rural electrification to boost local productivity and quality of life; Reliable Transportation - strengthening connectivity through roads, ports, and transport systems that link communities to opportunities; Sustainable Livelihood - empowering MSMEs, cooperatives, and local industries to create dignified, long-term employment; Accessible Healthcare - enhancing public health services, including rural hospitals and barangay health stations; and Quality Education - improving access through investment in schools, teacher support, and digital learning platforms. 'We are here to listen. We are here to understand your realities, your aspirations, and your solutions. The 20th Congress is committed to being a partner in turning regional visions into national progress,' Romualdez added. He was joined by former Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio 'Dong' Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga and Deputy Speaker David 'Jay-jay' Suarez of Quezon. Romualdez added that the House of Representatives will institutionalize more regional consultations in the months ahead. At least 283 members of the House have already expressed their support for Romualdez's reelection as Speaker for the 20th Congress, which First Regular Session will open on July 28. The Davao Region, on the other hand, is considered the bailiwick of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his family. — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
09-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Bill seeking to amend Bank Secrecy Law filed in House
Leyte First District Representative Martin Romualdez and Tingog Party-list Representatives Andrew Julian Romualdez and Jude Acidre have filed a bill seeking to amend the Bank Secrecy Law. Under the proposed bill, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will be allowed to examine bank deposits under strict conditions where there is reasonable suspicion of unlawful activity. 'In its current form, the law is being used to shield illegal acts such as money laundering, tax evasion, and corruption. That needs to change,' Romualdez said. Senator Francis 'Chiz' Escudero has also filed a bill mandating government officials and employees to execute and submit a written permission to examine, inquire, or look into all their deposits and investments, thereby waiving the Bank Secrecy Law. —KG, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
House Bill Seeks to allow senior, PWD discounts on top of promos
A new House bill has been filed seeking to ensure that senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) receive their 20% discount and 12% VAT exemption on top of any promotional offer extended by businesses. House Bill 16, filed by Speaker Martin Romualdez with co-authors Reps. Jude Acidre and Andrew Romualdez of Tingog party-list, clarifies that discounts for seniors and PWDs should not be overridden or absorbed by ongoing promos or sales offered to the general public. Additionally, the bill proposes that booklets should not be required for claiming discounts during purchases, aiming to make the process more convenient. The measure seeks to reaffirm the intent of the Senior Citizens Act and the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, ensuring that preferential treatment remains intact and is not diminished by retail promotions. A similar measure was approved by the House in 2024 but failed to pass in the Senate. Lawmakers hope this renewed version will finally be enacted during the 20th Congress, which opens on July 28.
GMA Network
04-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
House bill eyes senior, PWD discounts on top of 'promo offers'
A bill granting 20% discount and 12% Value Added Tax (VAT) exemption to senior citizens and persons with disabilities on top of any "promotional offer" has been filed at the House of Representatives. The proposed measure provides that 'the discount granted to senior citizens and persons with disabilities, including the 20% discount and exemption from the value-added tax (VAT) on goods and services, or the special discount on purchase of basic necessities and prime commodities, will be in addition to any prevailing promotional offers or discounts extended by business establishments, if any, has been provided, but in no way that it will require presentation of booklets in the procurement of goods.' Further, the bill states that a promotion or discount offered by a business establishment to the general public will not be considered in compliance with Section 4 of the Senior Citizens Act as amended and Section 32 of Magna Carta for Disabled Persons as amended. House Bill 16 was filed by 19th Congress House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who was reelected as Leyte Representative in the last elections. Tingog party-list Reps. Andrew Julian Romualdez and Jude Acidre co-authored the bill. 'This bill aims to preserve the preferential treatment accorded to senior citizens and persons with disabilities by mandating the State to adopt an integrated approach on how to make essential programs and other social services available to them in an attainable and convenient manner,' said Romualdez. 'This is in line with the state policy of promoting a just and dynamic social order that shall ensure the nation's prosperity and free its people from poverty,' the authors added. A similar bill covering promos on discounts for purchases made by senior citizens and PWDs was filed in the 19th Congress by then Reps. Joey Salceda of Albay, Rodolfo "Ompong" Ordanes of Senior Citizens party-list, and Alfelito "Alfel" Bascug of Agusan del Sur. This bill was approved by the House on third and final reading in May 2024, but the Senate did not pass a similar measure. The First Regular Session of the 20th Congress opens on July 28. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
