Yilmaz wa mutunga sa LA

A newly elected member of Congress in Bataan said yesterday that she is turning over her duties and responsibilities as a member of the Congressional Spouses to her husband, who will participate in the organization’s activities of helping battered women and attending ribbon-cutting activities.

Herminia Roman will assume outgoing Bataan Rep. Antonino Roman’s old post when Congress begins session in July.

At the weekly Balitaan sa Rembrandt hotel forum in Quezon City, Mrs. Roman said that her husband will become a congressional spouse when she officially sits as member of the 14th Congress.

“The only request of my husband is that he will not wear ladies clothes,” she jokingly told reporters covering the news forum.

Herminia, who ran under the Lakas-CMD banner in the first district of Bataan, defeated former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Felicito Payumo by more than 9,000 votes.

She said the secret behind her victory is the “continuing livelihood assistance” she has extended to the residents of her district even  before the campaign period began.

“We see to it that our door is open 24 hours a day to help meet the needs of the poor,” she said.   

Herminia also said she will continue her crusade to help the poor through livelihood assistance projects in her district.

Because her husband had completed his third and final term as congressman, Herminia decided to fill the political vacuum in her district by seeking the post herself.

This early, she is drafting her legislative action plan for the next three years, which will focus on livelihood assistance projects.

Herminia, who is new to lawmaking duties, said she will see to it that her husband will be available for consultation.

When there is no urgent legislative work to be done, Herminia said, her husband will also fill her vacant post among the Congressional Spouses headed by Gina de Venecia, wife of Speaker Jose de Venecia. – Perseus Echeminada