SPEAKER DY MEETS NEXT GENERATION OF LAWMAKERS

They came to Congress to learn how laws are made. They got a closer look at democracy in action—and a surprise visit from the Speaker himself.

Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III on Thursday met with 120 senior high school students from Quezon City participating in the House of Representatives’ 2026 NxtGen Congress, part of the Bagong Kongreso’s efforts to bring the institution closer to the people and to give young Filipinos a greater voice in shaping the nation’s future.

Speaker Dy, joined by House Secretary General Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil, visited the students at Makalintal Hall during the three-day “NxtGen Congress: Youth Voices, Nation’s Choices” Capacity Building Seminar-Workshop held from August 25 to 27.

The students enthusiastically welcomed the Speaker, who gamely posed for selfies and photographs and spent time interacting with the young participants.

Dy thanked the students for taking part in the program and said he was encouraged by their interest in seeing firsthand how Congress works.

“Natutuwa rin kami because interesado kayo makita kung papaano ang Kongreso. Makakaasa kayo ang Kongreso ngayon… talagang kami po ay pinagsisikapan na maging mas mabuti ang aming paglilingkod sa ating mga kabataan,” Dy told the students.

The Speaker also shared his own journey in public service, which began when he was only a few years older than many of the NxtGen participants.

The Speaker entered public service at 18 as a member of the Kabataang Barangay in 1980. Six years later, he became barangay captain and would go on to serve as provincial board member, vice mayor, mayor for nine years, congressman for nine years, governor for nine years, and vice governor for six years before eventually becoming Speaker of the House.

His journey, spanning more than four decades and virtually every level of local and national government, gave the students a glimpse of how early involvement in public affairs can grow into a lifetime of public service.

The 120 participants represent 12 schools under the Schools Division Office of Quezon City: Lucrecia Kasilag Senior High School, Quezon City Science High School, Bagong Silangan High School, Commonwealth High School, Juan Sumulong High School, Quirino High School, Eugenio Lopez Jr. Center for Media and Arts, Manuel A. Roxas High School, Lagro High School, San Bartolome High School, Emilio Jacinto National High School, and Ismael Mathay Sr. High School.

Through a series of modules and workshops, the students were introduced to the role and functions of the House of Representatives and learned how a bill becomes a law.

They also received practical exposure to the legislative process through sessions on committee deliberations, policy analysis, parliamentary procedure, legislative ethics and decorum, and public speaking in parliamentary proceedings.

Under Dy’s stewardship, the House has been opening its doors and taking Congress beyond its walls through initiatives that bring it closer to its constituents.

These include the Suporta sa Bayan Desk, NxtGen Congress, and LegisHear, the House’s nationwide public consultation program that brings lawmakers directly to communities to hear from the sectors affected by the laws they craft. (RM)