Latest news with #MartinRomualdez
GMA Network
13 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Romualdez: Free college law should include stipend, address dropouts
The Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act should be expanded to reduce, if not eradicate college dropouts, Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez on Wednesday. In a statement, Romualdez said that according to the latest report of Second Congressional Commission on Education, nearly four in 10 students still drop out despite the passage of the Free College Law. 'Free tuition was a landmark achievement, but the work is far from over. Nearly four out of 10 students in state universities and colleges are still dropping out. In some regions, the situation is even more alarming,' he said. 'These are not just statistics. They are shattered dreams and interrupted futures, often because students cannot afford transportation, food, rent, books or internet. We need to protect and build on the gains of the Free Higher Education Law by ensuring students have the means to actually finish school,' Romualdez added. He said the government must consider strategic interventions such as monthly stipends, transport subsidies, food allowances and digital access programs. 'These [additional support] are gaps we must urgently fill if we truly want free higher education to be a ladder out of poverty,' Romualdez said. Based on a Pulse Asia survey conducted in January 2024 and commissioned by Senate Committee on Basic Education chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian, 8 percent of Filipinos support free tuition in state-run colleges and universities. Romualdez then said the expansion of the Free College law should start with the review of the measure as provided under House Resolution 61 filed by Bicol Saro party-list Representative Terry Ridon. 'We owe it to our students to fund this law properly. We owe it to every Filipino family to give their children a real chance at a better future, and we owe it to the nation to make education a powerful equalizer, not an unfinished promise,' Romualdez said. — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Romualdez: May ayuda na tig-P10-M na AKAP funds ang 36 na distrito na apektado ng pagbaha
Makatatanggap ng ayuda na tig-P10 milyon mula sa AKAP funds ng gobyerno ang 36 legislative districts na naapektuhan ng pagbaha dulot ng bagyong Crising at ng Habagat, ayon kay Speaker Martin Romualdez. Idadaan ang pamamahagi ng tulong sa Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) na pinamumunuan ni Secretary Rex Gatchalian. Ang 33 sa naturang mga distrito ay nasa Metro Manila at tatlo sa Palawan: Caloocan City First District, represented by Oscar Malapitan Caloocan City Second District, represented by Edgar Erice Caloocan City Third District, represented by Dean Asistio Las Piñas Lone District, represented by Mark Anthony Santos Makati First District, represented by Monique Lagdameo Makati City Second District, represented by Dennis 'Alden' Almario Malabon Lone District, represented by Antolin 'Lenlen' Oreta III. Mandaluyong Lone District, represented by Alexandria Gonzales Manila First District represented by Rep. Ernesto Dionisio Jr. Manila Second District, represented by Rolando Valeriano Manila Third District, represented by Joel Chua Manila Fourth District, represented by Giselle Maceda Manila City Fifth District, represented by Irwin Tieng Manila Sixth District, represented by Bienvenido Abante Jr. Marikina First District, represented by Marcy Teodoro Marikina Second District, represented by Romero 'Miro' Quimbo Muntinlupa Lone District, represented byJaime Fresnedi Navotas First District, represented by Tobias 'Toby' Tiangco Parañaque First District, represented by Eric Olivarez, Parañaque Second District, represented by Brian Raymund Yamsuan Pasay Lone District, represented by Antonino Calixto Pasig Lone District, represented by Roman Romulo Quezon City First District, represented by Arjo Atayde Quezon City Second District, represented by Ralph Wendel Tulfo Quezon City Third District, represented by Franz Pumaren Quezon City Fourth District, represented by Jesus 'Bong' Suntay Quezon City Fifth District, represented by Patrick Michael 'PM' Vargas Quezon City Sixth District, represented by Ma. Victoria Co-Pilar San Juan Lone District, represented by Ysabel Maria Zamora Taguig City Second District, represented by Jorge Daniel Bocobo Taguig Pateros First District, represented by Ricardo Cruz Jr. Valenzuela First District, represented by Kenneth Gatchalian Valenzuela Second District, represented by Gerald Galang Palawan First District, represented by Rosalie Salvame Palawan Second District, represented by Jose Alvarez Palawan Third District, represented by Gil Acosta 'This is just the beginning of our coordinated disaster response. This amount will go a long way, but this will not be the last. The people should be able to feel that the government is ready to help them,' ayon sa pahayag ni Romualdez. Maliban sa pinansiyal na tulong, may mga ipapamahagi ring relief packs, pati na hot meals para sa mga evacuees na nasa mga paaralan, covered courts at iba pang temporary shelters. Ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Quezon City at Maynila, nagdeklara ng state of calamity sa kanilang nasasakupan upang magamit ang pondo na nakalaan para sa kalamidad. — Mula sa ulat ni Llanesca T. Panti/FRJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
36 districts to get P10 million AKAP funds each amid floods, says Romualdez
The government will give 36 legislative districts P10 million each in AKAP funds to aid those affected by the floods brought by Tropical Storm Crising and the Southwestern Monsoon or Habagat, Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez said Tuesday. The aid will be distributed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) led by Secretary Rex Gatchalian. The beneficiaries are 33 legislative districts in Metro Manila and three in Palawan: Caloocan City First District, represented by Oscar Malapitan Caloocan City Second District, represented by Edgar Erice Caloocan City Third District, represented by Dean Asistio Las Piñas Lone District, represented by Mark Anthony Santos Makati First District, represented by Monique Lagdameo Makati City Second District, represented by Dennis 'Alden' Almario Malabon Lone District, represented by Antolin 'Lenlen' Oreta III. Mandaluyong Lone District, represented by Alexandria Gonzales Manila First District represented by Rep. Ernesto Dionisio Jr. Manila Second District, represented by Rolando Valeriano Manila Third District, represented by Joel Chua Manila Fourth District, represented by Giselle Maceda Manila City Fifth District, represented by Irwin Tieng Manila Sixth District, represented by Bienvenido Abante Jr. Marikina First District, represented by Marcy Teodoro Marikina Second District, represented by Romero 'Miro' Quimbo Muntinlupa Lone District, represented byJaime Fresnedi Navotas First District, represented by Tobias 'Toby' Tiangco Parañaque First District, represented by Eric Olivarez, Parañaque Second District, represented by Brian Raymund Yamsuan Pasay Lone District, represented by Antonino Calixto Pasig Lone District, represented by Roman Romulo Quezon City First District, represented by Arjo Atayde Quezon City Second District, represented by Ralph Wendel Tulfo Quezon City Third District, represented by Franz Pumaren Quezon City Fourth District, represented by Jesus 'Bong' Suntay Quezon City Fifth District, represented by Patrick Michael 'PM' Vargas Quezon City Sixth District, represented by Ma. Victoria Co-Pilar San Juan Lone District, represented by Ysabel Maria Zamora Taguig City Second District, represented by Jorge Daniel Bocobo Taguig Pateros First District, represented by Ricardo Cruz Jr. Valenzuela First District, represented by Kenneth Gatchalian Valenzuela Second District, represented by Gerald Galang Palawan First District, represented by Rosalie Salvame Palawan Second District, represented by Jose Alvarez Palawan Third District, represented by Gil Acosta 'This is just the beginning of our coordinated disaster response. This amount will go a long way, but this will not be the last. The people should be able to feel that the government is ready to help them,' Romualdez said. In addition to the financial aid, relief packs have been readied for mass distribution, including servings of hot meals for evacuees currently housed in schools, covered courts and other temporary shelters. — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
6 days 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
14-07-2025
- 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
