Something big just happened in Mindanao.
Martin Romualdez, the powerful Leyte Congressman who’s expected to be Speaker of the House again for the 20th Congress, just sat down with 16 lawmakers from Mindanao—and it wasn’t just a friendly visit. It was a high-stakes consultation where local concerns met national power.
This happened on Monday in Butuan City, Surigao del Norte, and it wasn’t your ordinary meeting—it was filled with serious discussions about what Mindanao really needs and how it should be included in the next big agenda of Congress.
🤝 Why the Meeting Matters
Romualdez called the session a “wide-ranging dialogue” where Mindanao lawmakers could speak up about:
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Problems in their provinces
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Their ideas for fixing them
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How these concerns can shape the laws of the entire country
He said,
“We are not just here to talk—we’re here to listen and make sure your voices shape our laws.”
👥 Who Were in the Room?
Here are the 16 lawmakers Romualdez met with—from different corners of Mindanao:
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Jose “Joboy” Aquino II (Butuan City)
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Dale Corvera (Agusan del Norte)
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Alfelito Bascug & Adolph Edward Plaza (Agusan del Sur)
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Francisco Matugas (Surigao del Norte)
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Romeo Momo & Alexander Ty Pimentel (Surigao del Sur)
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Kaka Bag-ao (Dinagat Islands)
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Lordan Suan (Cagayan de Oro City)
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Bambi Emano (Misamis Oriental)
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Arlyn Ayon (SWERTE Party-list)
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Maria Carmen Zamora & Jhong Ceniza (Davao de Oro)
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Nelson Dayanghirang Jr. (Davao Oriental)
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Oyo Uy (Davao del Norte)
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John Tracy Cagas (Davao del Sur)
They came from different political parties like Lakas-CMD, Nacionalista, Liberal Party, and more—but for this meeting, they said they were united by the needs of their people, not by party colors.
📋 What Did They Talk About?
Romualdez and the lawmakers focused on the House-to-House Agenda—a 7-point plan to improve life across the Philippines, especially in places like Mindanao:
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Food Security – Help farmers grow more food and sell it at fair prices
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Clean Water Access – Build water systems for clean, safe water in all towns
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Affordable Electricity – Lower power costs and bring lights to faraway places
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Reliable Transportation – Fix roads, ports, and transport so people and goods can move faster
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Sustainable Jobs – Support small businesses and give people decent work
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Better Healthcare – Add more hospitals and barangay clinics
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Quality Education – Improve schools, teachers, and internet learning
Romualdez said this wasn’t just talk:
“We’re turning regional dreams into national realities.”
🎯 Why Now?
The 20th Congress opens its First Regular Session on July 28, and Romualdez is seen as the clear front-runner for House Speaker. With 283 lawmakers already backing him, this Mindanao meeting shows he’s building a strong base of support across the country.
But there’s a twist: Mindanao is also Duterte country—home of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his political allies. This makes every move in the region a calculated step in the bigger political game.
🔍 What’s Next?
Romualdez promised that this won’t be the last time lawmakers from the regions get heard. He wants to institutionalize regular regional consultations so Congress becomes more grounded in real-life issues.
Also present in the meeting were top allies like:
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Dong Gonzales, former Senior Deputy Speaker
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Jay-jay Suarez, Deputy Speaker from Quezon
🗳️ Bottom line: With power, priorities, and politics all in one room—the future of Mindanao’s development may depend on how this conversation turns into action. And Romualdez is making sure he’s the man at the center of it all.
