SPEAKERSHIP. Speaker Lord Allan Velasco endorses House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez as Speaker of the 19th Congress during their lunch meeting at Shangri-La The Fort in Taguig City on Tuesday (May 17, 2022). Velasco thanked Romualdez for helping him shepherd the House in the outgoing 18th Congress. (Photo courtesy of Romualdez' office) MANILA - Lord Allan Velasco on Tuesday endorsed House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez to be the next Speaker of the 19th Congress. "I believe that his election as Speaker of the 19th Congress will ensure that the legislative agenda of the incoming administration will be pursued and completed. Majority Leader Romualdez has my support and friendship," Velasco said during a meeting in Makati City. The incumbent Speaker thanked Romualdez for helping him shepherd the House in the outgoing 18th Congress, noting that his strong leadership and support was crucial to the passage of relevant and timely pandemic-response measures and the approval of important laws that will have "immense impact to stir and sustain our economic growth and development" in the new normal. "Under his watch, the House was able to carry on and carry out its mandate despite physical limitations due to the pandemic with the passage of priority legislative measures of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte," Velasco said. Romualdez, meanwhile, thanked Velasco for supporting him. "I am grateful for your support. From the bottom of my heart, thank you Speaker Velasco," Romualdez said. During their meeting, the two House leaders also discussed the Congress' official canvass of the votes for president and vice president cast in the May 9 elections. The tabulation will be done at the House premises in the Batasan complex in Quezon City. Congress will reconvene on Monday. The two leaders said they expect a speedy canvass and proclamation of the winners. Based on an unofficial count, former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte have won the May 9 presidential and vice presidential elections, respectively, by a landslide. The ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), which Velasco belongs to, announced its support for Romualdez over the weekend through its president, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi. Cusi cited Romualdez's track record in supporting the Duterte administration in the crafting of important pieces of legislation, such as the two Bayanihan laws, coronavirus disease-19 (Covid-19) Vaccination Program Act, the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act, and amendments to the Retail Trade Liberalization Act and the Public Service Act. "His track record speaks for itself. He is indeed one of the most hard-working members of Congress. We believe that Rep. Romualdez can bring the various political parties and blocs in the House of Representatives together to continue the legacy programs of the Duterte administration as well as shepherd in Congress the vision of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. for a more progressive Philippines," Cusi said. (PNA) }