House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Monday urged lawmakers and employees not to be swayed by comments or posts circulating on social media, saying such criticism should instead be treated as an opportunity to improve the quality of public service.
During his speech at the flag-raising ceremony at the Batasang Pambansa, Dy said House members and staff can help rebuild the chamber’s image — shaken by corruption scandals — through “hard work and honest service.”
“I encourage you: Do not let what you hear or read on social media affect you. Instead, use it as a chance to improve our duties,” he said in Filipino.
“We can change the image of this institution through honest, diligent, and meaningful service,” he added.
Dy stressed that “our true goal is the welfare of the Filipino people, not personal interests,” vowing that the chamber would pass laws that “serve with dignity, principles, and integrity.”
He recalled that during his first flag-raising ceremony as Speaker last October 6, he acknowledged that “trust in the chamber has been very low,” citing reports of staff avoiding their uniforms for fear of being shamed in public.
Dy said such sentiments should be taken as a call for the House to work harder, especially after the chamber was implicated in the nationwide flood-control scandal that toppled congressional leaders.
He noted that while the House’s trust rating climbed to 57 percent in an August 2025 OCTA survey, lingering corruption controversies — including allegations of kickbacks and conflicts of interest — underscore the urgent need for sustained accountability and reform. Dani Lagman