MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III is doubling down on his call to build a “Bagong Kongreso”, urging lawmakers and House employees to work together to restore public confidence in the institution.
Speaking during a surprise birthday gathering organized by House leaders, officials and employees on Tuesday, September 1, Dy said the effort to rebuild Congress has only begun and that the House must remain committed to doing what is right.
“Mahaba pa ang laban natin. Nakakapag-umpisa pa lang tayo,” Dy said, emphasizing that the work of rebuilding Congress requires the participation of everyone in the institution.
Dy, who turned 65 on August 31, thanked House members and employees for standing with him amid the challenges facing Congress.
He urged them to continue working together and strengthen their belief that a better Congress can be built.
The Speaker’s latest remarks reinforce his broader “Bagong Kongreso” agenda, which he has described as a push for greater transparency, accountability, institutional reform and concrete results for Filipinos.
From “new leadership” to moral recovery
Dy’s vision goes beyond changing leadership or introducing new programs.
Last week, he said a genuine Bagong Kongreso must begin with “moral recovery”, arguing that the success of Congress should not be measured simply by the number of laws passed.
Instead, he said lawmakers must demonstrate integrity, put the common good ahead of personal interests and work to restore Filipinos’ faith in the institution.
That message has become a recurring theme in Dy’s leadership.
He has stressed that being a legislator is not merely about creating laws but also about making difficult decisions based on conscience, responsibility and the public interest.
The House Speaker has also emphasized that rebuilding trust cannot be the responsibility of one person.
For Dy, the “Bagong Kongreso” is a collective effort involving lawmakers and House employees alike.
Bringing Congress closer to Filipinos
Another major component of Dy’s agenda is greater public participation in the legislative process.
Through LegisHear, the House has been bringing consultations outside Metro Manila to give Filipinos an opportunity to discuss proposed laws and government services directly with lawmakers.
The initiative reached Butuan City in August after an earlier launch in Isabela, with participants asked to provide feedback on proposed measures involving education, healthcare and other public concerns.
Dy has described the program as part of his effort to create a more open and people-centered Congress, arguing that effective laws should be developed with the participation of the people who will ultimately be affected by them.
This approach gives the “Bagong Kongreso” campaign a second dimension: not only rebuilding the institution internally, but also creating more opportunities for ordinary Filipinos to have their voices heard in the legislative process.
The trust problem remains the bigger challenge
The challenge for Dy, however, is turning the language of reform into results that Filipinos can see and measure.
The House has faced intense scrutiny over issues involving governance, public spending and allegations of corruption, making public trust one of the most important tests of the Speaker’s leadership.
Dy has repeatedly responded by emphasizing accountability, integrity and institutional reform.
The House itself has highlighted legislative activity and reforms under Dy’s leadership. At the close of the First Regular Session of the 20th Congress in June, the chamber said it had processed thousands of legislative measures, while lawmakers also continued work on measures under the administration’s legislative agenda.
But legislative output alone may not be enough to satisfy the public.
Dy himself has acknowledged this point.
His call for “moral recovery” suggests that the real measure of the Bagong Kongreso will ultimately be whether lawmakers can demonstrate a different standard of public service—and whether Filipinos believe that difference is real.
“We can build” — but the real test is still ahead
Dy’s latest message is therefore more than a birthday statement.
It is a renewed appeal for House members and employees to stay committed to rebuilding an institution whose credibility has come under sustained public scrutiny.
The Speaker says the work has begun, but also acknowledges that there is still a long road ahead.
For Filipinos watching Congress, the question now is not simply whether a “Bagong Kongreso” can be promised.
It is whether the House can turn that promise into visible reforms, stronger accountability, meaningful public participation and, ultimately, something harder to win back:
the trust of the Filipino people.
Leave a Reply