Dy admits: Trust in House very low, but we’ll work hard to regain it
MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III has admitted that trust in the chamber has been very low, urging staffers and lawmakers to work hard towards regaining the people’s confidence.
Dy said this during the flag raising program at the Batasang Pambansa on Monday, saying that he has heard of stories where House staffers do not wear their uniforms while commuting, out of fear of being shamed or singled out amid the public’s disgust with corruption schemes in government infrastructure projects.
Instead of simply being hurt, Dy said that the House should use this as a reminder to work harder.
“Alam kong hindi madali ang sitwasyon ng Kongreso sa panahong ito. Mabigat ang hamon sa ating institusyon at maging sa bawat isa sa atin. May nabalitaan nga po ako na may mga kasamahan tayong kailangang magpalit o mag-alis ng uniporme bago pumasok dahil sa takot na mapag-initan habang nagco-commute papunta dito sa Kongreso,” Dy said.
(I know that the situation in Congress now is not easy during these times. There is a huge challenge for our institution and even for each one of us. I have even heard stories of our colleagues who are forced to wear different clothes or remove their uniforms due to fear that they might be picked on while commuting towards Congress.)
“Masakit mang tanggapin, talagang bumaba ang tiwala ng taumbayan sa ating institusyon. Pero ito rin ay paalala na mas kailangan nating pagbutihin ang ating trabaho at ibalik ang tiwalang iyon sa pamamagitan ng tapat na paglilingkod,” he added.
(It may be hard to accept, but the people’s trust towards our institution really went down. But this is also a reminder to improve our work and regain that lost trust through honest service.)
Dy reminded lawmakers and House staffers that there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel.
“Tandaan lang natin lahat: sa bawat bagyo, may araw na muling sisikat. Sa bawat gabi ng dilim, may liwanag na paparating. Laging may liwanag sa dulo ng bawat lagusan,” he said.
(Let us all remember: for every typhoon, the sun will rise again. For every dark night, light will emerge. There will always be light at the end of each tunnel.)
“Narito po ako ngayon upang ipaabot ang aking pasasalamat. Dahil sa kabila ng lahat, patuloy kayong naglilingkod nang may malasakit at katapatan. Ang bawat dokumentong inyong inaayos, ang bawat pintuang inyong binabantayan, at ang bawat lugar na inyong pinananatiling malinis — lahat iyan ay may mahalagang bahagi sa ating gawain,” he added.
(I am here to give my thanks. Because despite everything, you continue to serve with care and honesty. Each document addressed, each door guarded, and every area you ensure cleanliness of — all of these have an important role in our everyday duty.)
In his fourth State of the Nation Address last July 2025, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned government officials and contractors who allegedly benefitted from flood control projects at the expense of the people, following Senator Panfilo Lacson’s warning that half of the country’s almost P2 trillion funds since 2011 for flood control may have been lost already to corruption.
Eventually, Marcos inspected several projects which were then revealed to be either substandard or completely non-existent. Investigations from different bodies — including Congress — followed suit, but several lawmakers were implicated as either having interests in the companies that do flood control projects, or were accused of diverting funds for such purposes.
The flood control scandal eventually reached Congress’ leadership: last September 8, former Senate president Francis Escudero was replaced by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, after after Escudero was criticized for receiving a P30 million campaign donation in 2022 from a contractor whose firm was able to bag a lot of government infrastructure projects.
READ: Sorsogon’s top contractor is brother of town mayor, city councilor https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2103642/sorsogons-top-contractor-is-brother-of-town-mayor-city-councilor
In the House, former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez relinquished his post last September 17, to allow an independent commission to probe his alleged involvement in flood control issues.
Romualdez has not been connected to any of the top companies doing the flood control projects, but he was one of the lawmakers named by contractor-couple Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya of allegedly receiving kickbacks from the projects.
READ: Romualdez quits as speaker amid flood probe pressure https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2110811/romualdez-quits-as-speaker-amid-flood-probe-pressure
During a previous Senate blue ribbon committee hearing, Curlee Discaya said that several House members have asked for a percentage of public funds allocated to infrastructure projects, after his companies bagged government contracts.
Discaya added that on top of lawmakers’ request for a kickback was a 25 percent cut that would allegedly be given to Romualdez and Co.
Romualdez called out the Discaya couple’s claims, calling it “false, malicious and nothing more than name-dropping.”
READ: Romualdez: I never accepted bribes https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2106197/romualdez-discayas-claim-is-false-malicious-i-never-bribed-anyone
Dy appealed to House staffers to help him under a united theme.
“Bilang inyong Speaker, alam kong hindi ko kayang gampanan ang tungkuling ito nang ako lamang. Kailangan ko po ang tulong at tiwala ninyong lahat. Ang pagkakataong ito, hayaan ninyong bigyang-diin ko ang tema ng ating pagtitipon ngayon — ‘Kasama All: Tungo sa Diwang Makabayan’,” Dy said.
(As your Speaker, I know that I cannot fulfill this duty on my own. I need everyone’s help and trust. That is why I would take this chance to emphasize on our theme for today — ‘United with Everyone Towards a Pro-People Mindset.’)
“Ito ang paalala na sa Kongreso, walang nag-iisa. Lahat tayo ay may mahalagang katungkulan o papel — mula sa mga mambabatas hanggang sa mga simpleng kawani — upang magtaguyod ng isang makabayan, tapat at maaasahang paglilingkod,” he added.
(This is a reminder that in Congress, no one is alone. We all have an important role to play — from lawmakers down to the simple staffer — to uphold a pro-people, honest, and effective service.)
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