House Pushes Rural Development, Vows No Province Left Behind

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives is committed to ensuring that every province benefits from national development as it pursues measures to expand opportunities for families, strengthen local communities, and speed up growth nationwide. According to a statement on Sunday, Dy stressed the point on Saturday in a message delivered on his behalf by Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez during the 60th Foundation Anniversary of South Cotabato and the 27th T’nalak Festival. In that message, he noted that South Cotabato has shown over the past six decades what could be accomplished when government and citizens work together. READ: World Bank to fund P45-billion rural program – Marcos “Every great community is woven together by people who choose unity over division; who choose service over self-interest; and who believe that our diversity is our greatest strength,” Dy said. “Progress is never woven by one person. It is woven by an entire community. And weaving that future is not finished in a celebration,” Dy said in a mix of English and Filipino. Drawing inspiration from the T’nalak Festival, he likened the province’s colorful handwoven fabric to the collective effort required to build stronger communities despite differences in culture and tradition. Dy also highlighted several education and nutrition measures approved by the House before the close of the First Regular Session of the 20th Congress, including the expansion of the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) Program, the strengthening of the Last Mile Schools Program, and the proposed National Nutrition Program, which seeks to expand school-based feeding and other nutrition interventions for Filipino children. READ: DA sets over P600-M rural infra projects in E. Visayas “Laws matter. But what matters even more is whether people actually feel the difference. Because the true measure of every law is not what is written on paper. It is what changes in people’s lives,” he said. As Congress prepares to open its Second Regular Session, Dy said the House remained focused on passing legislation that responds to the real needs of Filipinos. “We continued to listen to the voice of our local governments and our citizens to make sure that every law that we pass responds to your true needs and the challenges that your communities face,” he said. Dy also stressed the House’s commitment to equitable national development, particularly for communities outside Metro Manila. “As Congress resumes its work, we carry with us a simple commitment: No province should be left behind. No community should be overlooked. And every Filipino — especially our kababayan in Mindanao — deserves the opportunity to succeed,” he said. /atm