Laguna came together on Friday, October 9, to host the sixth rollout of the House of Representatives’ nationwide “LegisHEAR: Bawat Batas Mahalaga” campaign, with Calamba City Lone District Rep. Charisse Anne “Cha” Hernandez leading the local hosting and coordination of the legislative consultation.
Held at the Jose Rizal Coliseum, the event brought together national and local government officials, lawmakers, community stakeholders, and thousands of Laguna residents to discuss concerns that could help shape responsive legislation.
The gathering underscored the strong support of Laguna’s local governments, with representatives from the province’s four regular congressional districts and three lone districts joining the consultation.
Also present were officials from the Provincial Government of Laguna, including Gov. Sol Aragones and Vice Gov. JM Carait, as well as city and municipal officials, members of local legislative councils, barangay officials, and other community leaders from across the province.
The participation of Calamba City’s barangay officials and local government representatives further highlighted the grassroots character of the consultation, allowing concerns from the community level to be brought closer to national lawmakers.
House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III led the House delegation and emphasized the importance of sustained dialogue between Congress, government agencies, local officials, and communities in crafting laws that respond to actual needs on the ground.
“LegisHEAR campaign aims to bring Congress closer to communities and give citizens the opportunity to directly express their concerns, needs, and suggestions, which may serve as a basis for drafting proposed laws,” Dy said.
The consultation included focus group discussions (FGDs) involving national government agencies, local government units, Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), and other community stakeholders. Among the issues discussed were concerns affecting communities, particularly the safety and welfare of students inside and outside schools, as well as the rehabilitation and protection of Laguna de Bay.
One of the partner agencies in the initiative was the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). An NBI assistant director explained the legislative process, from the crafting of proposed measures to their approval and eventual signing by the President.
NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag also offered free NBI clearances to the first 1,000 applicants at Calamba Elementary School (Central II), with the service scheduled to continue until October 10, 2026.
The Laguna congressional delegation was represented by Rep. Ann Matibag of the First District, Rep. Ramil Hernandez of the Second District, Rep. Loreto Amante of the Third District, Rep. Benjamin Agarao of the Fourth District, Rep. Arman Dimaguila of Biñan City, Rep. Roy Gonzales of Santa Rosa City, and host Rep. Cha Hernandez of Calamba City.
Other national and local officials also attended, including Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez, Deputy Speaker Rachel Arenas, Rep. Tonypet Albano, Calamba City Mayor Ross Rizal, Vice Mayor Totie Lazaro, members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, barangay captains, and representatives from cities and municipalities across Laguna.
Laguna Gov. Sol Aragones welcomed the initiative and underscored the importance of legislation in maintaining peace and order.
“Kapag walang batas, walang kaayusan,” Aragones said, while thanking the House of Representatives for bringing the LegisHEAR consultation to Laguna.
The event drew more than 4,000 participants, highlighting the province-wide support for the initiative and the importance of bringing national lawmakers closer to communities.
Laguna is the sixth province visited under the House of Representatives’ nationwide LegisHEAR campaign, with Calamba City serving as the venue for the House’s legislative consultation with Laguna’s government and communities.
