"When students fall behind in the early years, they face mounting difficulties in grasping more complex lessons in higher grades, and many never fully catch up."

"The measure directly responds to the urgent need to strengthen literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional development during the critical years of Kindergarten to Grade 3, so that no child is left behind at the very start of their educational journey and early deficits do not turn into lifelong disadvantages."

"Let us act with urgency. Let us act with resolve. We cannot allow this crisis to persist."

"We cannot allow another generation to be lost. Every year of delay means more children reach higher grades carrying gaps that could have been prevented in their earliest years."

"The learning crisis already affects productivity, employability, and social cohesion; addressing it at its roots is a matter of justice and national interest."

"Times are changing, and our defense institutions must be able to keep pace. The threats we face today are no longer confined to land and sea, but now include cyber intrusions, disinformation operations, and other ‘gray zone’ tactics that test our cohesion and national resolve."

"The harassment experienced by Filipino fisher folks in the West Philippine Sea and the shadowing of Philippine vessels signifies the fact that national security concerns have entered everyday conversations among ordinary Filipinos."

"We need a Department of National Defense that can respond to the future, with the professional civilian capability, legal authority, and funding tools to do its job well"

"We also need an Armed Forces of the Philippines that is not burdened by outdated planning cycles and bureaucratic constraints, but is able to adapt swiftly to rapidly evolving technologies"

"I rise today to sponsor a measure that seeks to give long-overdue recognition, protection, and dignity to the individuals who form the most accessible arm of our public health system"

"Barangay health workers are the first to knock on doors, the first to identify health risks, the first to guide mothers and children, and the first to respond to emergencies in communities where formal health facilities remain distant or limited."

"This vital workforce deserves a law that recognizes both its history and its future. It is for this reason that as early as the 14th Congress, I filed a Magna Carta for Barangay Health Workers, grounded in the belief that Universal Health Care cannot succeed without those who make health care work at the grassroots."

"In every community I visit, I meet BHWs who serve out of commitment rather than compensation. They monitor pregnancies, track immunizations, care for the elderly, and mobilize whole barangays in times of disaster. Yet many continue to work without clear tenure, standardized benefits, or adequate institutional support"

"The minimum wage should be a living wage. It must not only cover food and shelter but also provide access to education, health care, and social participation."

"Our cultural heritage is not a commodity to be traded or exploited. It is a shared legacy that defines who we are and gives tangible expression to the historical experiences, ideas, and exchanges that have shaped our communities."

"It demands our collective effort to protect, preserve, and pass on to future generations."

"When the very law meant to protect our heritage becomes an instrument for its exploitation, we must act decisively to repeal it."

"Every artifact, every historical site, every archaeological find tells the story of who we are as a people. When these are destroyed or taken for profit, we lose more than objects; we lose our identity, our history, and our shared heritage."

"You cannot defend cultural heritage with one hand and sign off on treasure hunting permits with the other. This bill closes that contradiction and asserts that our laws stand firmly on the side of protection, not extraction for profit."

"The preservation of our nation’s built heritage is not merely a matter of aesthetics or nostalgia. It is a duty to safeguard the tangible expressions of our collective memory, identity, and history,"

"Our built heritage is often lost not to neglect, but to unaffordable upkeep. This bill eases the tax and cost burden on owners who meet conservation standards, making restoration feasible."

"The bill recognizes that heritage protection cannot rest solely on regulation and enforcement. It must be supported by positive incentives that mobilize both public and private stakeholders toward a common goal: the preservation of our built heritage for future generations."

"When farmers lose, the entire nation suffers."

"Why allow importation at the height of harvest? The result is farm gate prices collapsing while market prices remain high. Traders profit, but farmers are left behind."

"If we do not dismantle the monopoly over cold storage and import permits, this crisis will repeat every year. Government must buy directly from farmers and build farmer-managed storage facilities so they can compete fairly."

"Relief must be responsible. We can ease the burden on ordinary families without draining government funds. This reform lowers VAT where it matters most, on everyday consumption, while ensuring that those who can afford luxury and premium goods continue to contribute fairly"

"Why should basic goods and luxury items pay the same VAT?"

"Poor households spend a much larger share of their income on food and essential needs. When we tax survival and luxury at the same rate, the burden falls disproportionately on those with the least capacity to absorb it"

"Electricity for basic household use is not a luxury; it is a daily necessity that keeps our homes functioning and our children studying"

"If we are serious about easing the burden on Filipino families, we must ensure that the tax system does not unnecessarily inflate their power bills"

"These amounts are already contributions of our citizens to good public causes, missionary electrification, cleaner energy, and lifeline rates for the poor. Let us not increase the burden by taxing these contributions again"

"Lower VAT for ordinary Filipinos, stable revenues for government, that is the balance we are striking…In a time of rising costs, we must cushion families wisely and sustainably"

"This year’s Women’s Month calls us to move beyond recognition into integration, to ensure that equality defines how our institutions, schools, and workplaces function every day"

"When women are economically empowered, families thrive and communities become more resilient. Supporting women’s enterprises means investing in the future of sustainable development"

"Women are frontliners of climate action and guardians of resilience. When we invest in women’s capacity to lead, from barangay councils to national policymaking, we fortify the nation’s defense against climate and environmental risks"

"Our women preserve our culture, nurture our youth, and ensure harmony in communities. They are the teachers who shape values, the culture-bearers who keep our heritage alive, and the community leaders who bridge differences and nurture unity."

"Recognizing their leadership is not only an act of equality, but it is also an affirmation of the nation’s strength and identity."

"The strength of our nation lies in the empowerment of every Filipina. When women are protected, supported, and given equal opportunities, progress becomes stronger and inclusive."

"What are we doing differently from before, and what concrete steps can we take now to improve literacy and numeracy?"

"How do we take out the load, administrative duties of teachers, not totally, just so that they could focus on teaching and not the admin stuff."

"Why shouldn’t our rich literary heritage and diverse voices be celebrated alongside the world’s best?"

"This opportunity allows us to shed the constraints of colonial frames and celebrate our rich heritage on a global platform. By reclaiming our heritage and sharing it with the international community, we can showcase our vibrant and authentic narratives to foster greater understanding and appreciation."

"Receiving this Guest-of-Honour scroll is more than symbolic — it represents our stories, transcending borders through the universal language of literature."

"Our presence here (at the Frankfurt Book Fair) is a testament to the collaborative efforts of passionate individuals, institutions and government agencies."

"The Philippines is a nation of storytellers just like Rizal. This is where the oral traditions of our ancestors seamlessly blend with the written works of our contemporary authors."

"To speak of foresight in this context is not an academic exercise. It is the most practical expression of survival and the most strategic expression of leadership."

"Environmental diplomacy and cultural diplomacy are not separate pursuits. They are converging forces that give nations both the strength to endure and the power to inspire"

"You are the torchbearers of foresight. You bear the responsibility of anticipating change, of preparing with discipline, of envisioning with courage, and of listening with humility"

"The 12 percent VAT on basic food items, the ones low-income families and the poorest households actually consume, is a levy on the poor"

"Corruption in government always presents itself as normal and regular. Corruption always wants to hide in plain sight."