HOUSE Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III called on Filipinos from all sectors to actively participate in crafting national legislation as the House of Representatives brought its nationwide public consultation program, LegisHear, to Mindanao.
In a video message played during the program’s second leg at Caraga State University in Butuan City, Dy emphasized that effective laws are created alongside the citizens they serve.
The initiative embodies the “Bagong Kongreso” vision of building a more open, transparent, and participatory legislative process under the current House leadership.
“Every meaningful law begins with an important voice—the voice of the Filipino people,” Dy said, urging local governments, civil society groups, the academe, and ordinary citizens to share their perspectives. “We want to bring Congress closer to our countrymen, visiting different parts of the nation to listen and gauge the real condition of our people.”
Spearheaded locally by Butuan City Lone District Rep. Jose “Joboy” S. Aquino II, the Butuan iteration invited local stakeholders to weigh in on key legislative measures directly impacting the region.
Discussions centered on House Bill No. 4744 (the proposed Basic Education Voucher Assistance Act), House Bill No. 8470 (seeking to upgrade the Butuan Medical Center into the Butuan General Hospital), and House Bill No. 9305 (the proposed KALINGA Bill).
The event also featured focus groups on frontline government service delivery and an educational session on how a bill becomes law.
House Secretary General Atty. Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil noted that selecting critical healthcare and education bills ensures lawmakers receive grassroots feedback from families in Caraga before measures reach final approval.
Local leaders warmly welcomed the initiative. Representing Mayor Lawrence Lemuel Fortun, Butuan City Vice Mayor Reynante Desiata expressed gratitude to the House leadership for bridging the physical distance between Metro Manila and provincial communities.
Desiata highlighted that the consultation provides residents with a rare opportunity to directly shape policies affecting their daily lives, reinforcing inclusive and rights-based local governance.
Following its debut in Isabela and its expansion to Butuan, the LegisHear program plans to continue its nationwide rollout.
