Senior officials of the House of Representatives of both the Philippines and Japan engaged in a productive exchange of best practices in legislation late Monday afternoon, sharing innovations employed by both chambers in the lawmaking process, a press release from the Office of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said.
Secretary General Reginald “Reggie” Velasco led the Philippine delegation in a meeting with Japan’s House of Representatives International Affairs Department Director General Yamamoto Hironori.
Velasco emphasized that the meeting, held at the Second Annex Building (Daini Bekkan) of the House of Representatives in Tokyo, Japan, underscored the commitment of both nations to strengthen parliamentary cooperation and improve legislative practices.
“Our exchange with Director General Yamamoto provides us with invaluable insights that can help refine our legislative practices and better serve our constituents,” Velasco stated, highlighting the importance of collaboration in fostering mutual understanding and enhancing legislative processes to benefit ordinary Filipinos.
Director General Yamamoto expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, emphasizing Japan’s dedication to sharing its legislative expertise with the Philippines, with which it has a deep friendship and a long history of cooperation.
He noted that the partnership between Japan and the Philippines is built on mutual respect and a shared goal of legislative excellence, expressing Japan’s delight in sharing their experiences.
The dialogue between the two legislative leaders focused on several key areas, including the digital transformation of legislative processes, effective public consultation mechanisms, and strategies for enhancing legislative oversight.
Both parties agreed on the importance of continuous collaboration to address common challenges and harness opportunities for legislative innovation.
Velasco mentioned that the Philippine House of Representatives has already initiated many innovations, such as the digitization of several operations in its legislative processes and the improvement of cybersecurity through Office of House Secretary General Director II Arnold de Castro.
Those who accompanied Velasco and de Castro during the meeting included former Zamboanga Sibugay 1st District Rep. Wilter Wee “Sharky” Palma II, House Sergeant-at-Arms retired PMGEN Napoleon Taas, Deputy Secretary General for Committee Affairs Department Jennifer “Jef” Baquiran, Deputy Secretary General for Legislative Operations Department Atty. David Robert Amorin, Head Executive Assistant Director V Atty. Muel Romero, House Committee on Rules Technical Staff Chief (OIC) Joven Marcelang, Office of the Speaker Communications Director II Ruben Manahan III, and Office of the Speaker Special Assistant for Media Affairs Ryan Ponce Pacpaco.*
