KORONADAL CITY (September 13) — Mindanao became the first major island group to host two legs of the House of Representatives’ LegisHear public consultation program as lawmakers brought the legislative process closer to communities in South Cotabato on Saturday.
Senior Deputy Speaker and South Cotabato 2nd District Rep. Ferdinand “Dinand” Hernandez, host of the consultation, thanked Speaker Faustino G. Dy III for bringing the congressional initiative to the province.
Dy said LegisHear is designed to bring Congress directly to communities because residents themselves know what their localities need.
“Anumang sanga o anumang katayuan natin sa ating lipunan, kailangang naririnig natin ang tinig at lalong-lalo na, pinag-uusapan natin kung ano ang makakabuti sa atin pong mga lugar,” Dy said.
“Sapagkat kayo lamang po ang nakakaalam kung ano ang mga kailangan at kung ano po ang dapat nating gawin para lalo pong umunlad at maging progresibo ang inyo pong sinasakupang lugar,” he added.
Hernandez said the consultations are intended to make lawmaking more responsive to the concerns of ordinary Filipinos.
“Ang LegisHear ay seryosong programa ng Kongreso. Ang batas ay hindi nabubuo kung hindi kami makikinig sa mga taumbayan—kung ano ang daing nila, ano ang gusto nila. Kailangang mag-umpisa sa inyo iyong batas na ipinapasa namin sa Kongreso,” Hernandez said at the South Cotabato Gymnasium and Cultural Center.
“This is a brilliant project na ang Kongreso ay bumaba na mismo sa ground para makinig kung ano pa ang gusto ninyo, ano pa ang kulang, para kami na mga mambabatas ang gagawa ng batas na base sa sentimyento ng mga tao, lalong-lalo na ang mga masa, mga farmers natin, at ang mga marginalized sectors,” he added.
The Koronadal City consultation was the second LegisHear in Mindanao, following the first Mindanao leg held in Butuan City in August.
The program was earlier conducted in Isabela for Luzon and Dumaguete City for the Visayas.
Hernandez welcomed the House delegation and recognized regional directors of national government agencies, local officials, Tulong Dunong beneficiaries, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority scholars who attended the consultation.
South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. thanked the House for selecting the province as the latest LegisHear venue, describing it as among the most important initiatives launched by Dy.
“Napakaswerte natin na dito gaganapin ang isa sa pinakaimportanteng programa ng ating Speaker,” Tamayo said in his welcome remarks.
“Gaganapin ngayon ang isang town hall meeting kung saan papakinggan ang boses ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.
Tamayo said the consultation promotes direct democracy and participatory governance by giving citizens a venue to help shape measures affecting their communities.
Hospital, university bills
Dy also highlighted two Hernandez-authored measures that directly affect public health and higher education in South Cotabato.
Both bills have passed the House on third and final reading and are now awaiting action in the Senate.
House Bill No. 8342 seeks to rename the SOCCSKSARGEN General Hospital as the SOCCSKSARGEN Regional and Medical Center and increase its authorized bed capacity from 75 to 1,500 beds.
The proposed expansion would significantly increase the hospital’s capacity to provide medical and specialty services to patients from South Cotabato and neighboring areas.
House Bill No. 8627 seeks to convert the South Cotabato State College in Surallah into the South Cotabato State University, potentially expanding its capacity to provide higher education and strengthen its role as a public higher education institution in the province.
The South Cotabato LegisHear also included an orientation on how a bill becomes law, discussions on the two local measures, and proposals concerning electricity costs.
Residents and sectoral representatives were given the opportunity to raise questions, recount their experiences and submit recommendations directly to lawmakers and government officials.
Joining Dy and Hernandez were Reps. Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez (Negros Occidental 3rd District), Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu (Maguindanao del Sur Lone District), Henry “Indy” Oaminal Jr. (Asenso Pinoy Party-list), Ruth Sakaluran (Sultan Kudarat 1st District), Steve Chiongbian Solon (Sarangani Lone District), Bella Vanessa Suansing (Sultan Kudarat 2nd District), Dibu Tuan (South Cotabato 3rd District), and House Secretary General Atty. Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil.
