The House of Representatives is racing to pass several priority bills—including the controversial Anti-POGO measure—before the 19th Congress adjourns sine die on June 13.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez urged his fellow lawmakers to maximize the remaining session days to complete unfinished legislative work. “Now is the final stretch of the 19th Congress, and we intend to make every day count,” he said.
Among the pending measures lined up for final approval are the Anti-Offshore Gaming Operations Act (House Bill 10987), the Philippine Civil Registry Act (HB 11359), the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act (HB 11430), the AICS Act (HB 11395), and amendments to expand benefits for senior citizens.
Romualdez emphasized the urgency of these measures, saying they hold “direct impact on the lives of Filipinos, from community safety to the rights and welfare of our elderly.”
A key priority is HB 10987, which seeks to outlaw Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), long associated with criminal activities, corruption, and national security risks. “We owe it to our people to shut the doors on criminal syndicates hiding behind legal loopholes,” Romualdez stressed.
He also reminded lawmakers of their responsibility to uphold democratic institutions amid increasing online threats. “In these final days of the 19th Congress, let us show that the House of the People is a bastion of truth, justice, and order. We are the guardians of public trust,” he declared. “We started strong, and we will end strong.”
From July 25, 2022 to May 28, 2025, the House processed 13,868 measures, including 11,506 bills and 2,361 resolutions. Of these, 1,493 were passed on third and final reading, and 280 have been enacted into law—93 of them national and 187 local.
Sessions resume on Monday, June 2.
