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NllMUA1IITT
KEY leaderE of political parties and influential bloc6
in the incoming 18th Congress assembled in Quezo.n
City yesterday to com.urit themselves to the speaker-
ship bid of Leyte Representative-elect Martin Ro.
mualdez and to the legislative agenda of President
Rodrigo "Rody" Dutede,
The assembly held at SEDA Hotel Vertis North,
according to House Majorily Leader and Capiz Rep.
Fredenil "Fred" Castro, was t}le fust in a series of
caucuses that the coalilion aims to hold to udte tlle
political parties and othtir blocs in Congress toward the
early pdssage gf the P.lesidelt's priority bils,
"Wehavedeijdedtriqosspadylinesaridband togetlrct
to press for the-speedy congressional approval of the
President's prioritybils. A single party cannot do it alone.
We need the support of everybody so Congress can help
realizethe kesident's viEionf
realize the P.lesident's or the country,"
vision for country,l saidCasho,
said Casuo,
w ho is also president oI the National Uni i Pdrty (Nit tr).
"This is j ust thebeginning, possibly the spark needed
to unite the l8th Congress. ln the coming days and
weeks, other congressmen who already signed Lhe man-
ifesto of support lor our Speaker, Cong. M;rtin, will also
come out in the open and join us in our gatherings. It is Constitution Association
difficult to schedule a caucw of more than 180 congress-
mm in a single day," Castro added.
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda for his part explained that
the key leaders of the political parties and other blocs
decided to hold t}!e assembly so they can all have a clear
picture of the reforms tiat Romualdez plars Lo imple-
ment in the 18th Congress as Spealer.
"We are 100 percent behind Cong. Martin a s Speal<er.
We need to get his views on how to make the next expectation of President Duterte and of our people.
Congressmoie effective in legislating the laws thatare With the help of every r-nember of the 18th Congress, I
beneficial to ow countrtrneo" said Salceda, who is from am conJident that we carr help deliver the promises of
the ru-ling PDP-Laban. President Duterte to our people," the Leyte solor said.

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