Time and again, I have stated in this column that we have the opportunity as a region to have Congressman Ferdinand Martin Romualdez as our Speaker of the House of Representatives.
That was the chance of a lifetime we had been waiting for. Many of the national government's major projects in this region could not be implemented for years, even decades, because the region lacked sufficient influence at the national level to secure funding for large-scale projects, with one notable exception: the 2.1-kilometer San Juanico Bridge.
In this context, the region languished near the cellar of the regions based on the level of development, such as the extent of poverty.
We are a region with great promise, abundant natural resources, and a strategically located position on the eastern seaboard of the country, with a national highway running through it from Luzon to Mindanao. And yet, we are languishing near the bottom of the economic hierarchy.
What could be the missing ingredient that would propel us to higher growth?
Then we had the answer. Get a prominent person from this region to become the fourth-highest-ranking political figure in the national hierarchy - the Speaker.
From July 2022 to September 2025, the region seemed to be in a state of suspended animation. Projects that were never funded or had very little funding suddenly became awash with funds; an International Airport with much bigger funding than previously allocated, an international port hub in nearby Babatngon town that will cost billions of pesos, a tide embankment and causeway project that featured a 360-meter bridge to boot that will cost around eight billion pesos, and a long drainage with road project the likes of which we have never seen before, from Tacloban City to Palo, Leyte.
We felt blessed to be given these projects after such a long wait. Now the disappointment sets in.
Congressman Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is no longer the Speaker, having served in that position for three years.
What happens to our District and region now?
This is particularly concerning and disturbing because the change in position is set against the backdrop of corruption.
And since the day Congressman Romualdez stepped down, he has been the subject of relentless attacks. How many more “bombs” will be thrown at him?
Since this region helped him reach the Speakership, we can feel the attacks being thrown at us.
It is early in the game, and the people of this region are still in a state of disbelief. How did we get to this point? At one time, we thought we had a potential President waiting in the wings with 2028 less than three years away. Now that possibility is virtually gone.
The trillions of pesos lost to corruption over the last decade are simply too much for Filipinos to ignore. And when you are the Head of the institution that allocates national funds or the budget, the biggest blame will surely be on you. It cannot be on someone else.
Damage control could be the name of the game now. But serious damage has occurred.
From our perspective as a region, I suppose the least we can do is to protect the projects that are already underway. Congressman Romualdez is our Representative in Congress. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is still our President. All major projects currently being implemented are expected to be completed by 2028. We still have a bright future.
These could be confusing times. But, as stated above, we know how best to approach the situation.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonNews #IAmBack