Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez attended the House of Representatives plenary session, where he was greeted by several lawmakers despite facing ongoing scrutiny linked to a flood control controversy.

Romualdez, the former House Speaker, was seen participating in legislative proceedings as colleagues approached him in the plenary hall to offer greetings and engage briefly during the session.

Despite the controversy, Romualdez remains active in legislative work and continues to champion key policy measures in the chamber. He is the principal author of House Bill 8466, or the National Land Use Act, which was approved by the House on third and final reading.

The measure seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for land use planning in the country, aiming to strengthen food security, improve disaster resilience, and address long-standing issues in housing and infrastructure development.

Romualdez described the legislation as a practical reform designed to streamline overlapping and often fragmented policies affecting land utilization across various sectors.

The National Land Use Act is also listed as one of the priority measures under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), reflecting its importance in the government’s broader policy agenda.

The bill’s passage marks a significant step toward institutionalizing a national framework for land management, which lawmakers say is essential for sustainable development and long-term planning in the Philippines.