Romualdez vows to fund building, improvement of barracks; praises troops for their bravery

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has committed to allocate funds for the building or improvement of soldiers’ barracks as he commended them for their bravery in defending the nation.

He made the commitment during his talk to the troops last Thursday at the headquarters of the 11th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army at Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Barangau Bus-bus, Jolo, Sulu led by its commander, Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio.

Patrimonio welcomed Romualdez to the camp, where the latter was given arrival honors.

The leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives was accompanied by several lawmakers, including Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Agusan del Norte Rep. Jose Aquino ll and Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco and Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan and former Rep. Munir Arbison of Sulu.

Speaker Romualdez lauded the officers and soldiers for defending the country’s democracy and sovereignty from internal and external threats.

“We have to look after the welfare of our soldiers - our officers and men. We have to provide them with comfortable housing quarters,” Speaker Romualdez, a lawyer from University of the Philippines (UP) and President of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa), said who discussed with Patrimonio and other leaders the 11th ID Site Development Plan.

“They are the most important component of our national defense program. They are in charge of protecting the country from threats - internal or external - to promote and maintain peace,”Speaker Romualdez said who earlier committed strong support for better budgetary needs of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as the House of Representatives is scheduled to deliberate the proposed P6.352-trillion 2025 National Expenditures Program (NEP) this Monday.

He added that without peace, no economic development can take place.

“That is very evident in many parts of Mindanao, including Sulu, which have had to live with and resolve internal strife, and where economic progress is now happening,” he stressed.

The House leader promised to look into the need for building more barracks where they are needed, and for improving existing housing facilities.

The funds for these could be included in the proposed 2025 national budget, he said.

The House leader is an honorary member of Sambisig Class of 1991 of the Philippine Military Academy.