1Tahanan lawmaker exits House, cites health

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — A lawmaker from Capiz recently resigned from Congress.

Lawyer Nathaniel Oducado stepped down from the House of Representatives on Tuesday, May 19, citing health concerns and the need to spend more time with his family after nearly a year of pushing reforms aimed at protecting ordinary Filipinos from corruption, abusive systems, and economic hardship.

“I entered public service to fight for ordinary Filipinos, and although I am leaving Congress earlier than expected, I leave knowing that we filed 115 bills that carried the voices of workers, commuters, consumers, and families who are too often ignored,” Oducado said in a statement following his resignation.

As representative of 1Tahanan Party-list, Oducado filed 115 House bills covering issues such as predatory lending, political dynasties, cigarette smuggling, labor rights, transportation welfare, and consumer protection.

Among the measures he authored was House Bill No. 6980, or the “Credit Cards and Loans Penalties and Surcharges Regulation Act,” which seeks to regulate excessive interest rates, hidden charges, and unfair lending penalties imposed on borrowers.

“We refused to ignore the struggles of Filipino families trapped in endless debt because of abusive lending practices,” Oducado said. “Government should protect consumers, not powerful groups that take advantage of them.”

The lawmaker also filed House Bill No. 6968, or the “Strengthening Access to Credit for Micro and Small Businesses Act of 2025,” which aims to provide safer financing opportunities for small entrepreneurs and reduce dependence on exploitative lenders.

Apart from economic reforms, Oducado also pushed measures against smuggling and political monopolies in government.

These include House Bill No. 6965, or the “Anti-Illicit Cigarette Import Trade and Smuggling Act of 2025,” and House Bill No. 8306, or the proposed “Anti-Political Dynasty Act.”

“I pushed these reforms because public service should always prioritize the welfare of ordinary Filipinos over political and business interests,” he said.

Oducado likewise authored bills seeking stronger protection for freelance workers, commuter welfare, surrogate mothers, and energy consumers.

One proposal seeks to reduce the value-added tax on electricity from 12 percent to 6 percent to help ease the burden of rising utility costs on Filipino households.

The outgoing congressman also filed House Bill No. 6960, which seeks to grant civil service eligibility to qualified casual and contractual government employees who have rendered at least five years of continuous service.

Oducado’s resignation was announced in the House plenary, along with that of Pinoy Workers Party-list Rep. Franz Vincent Legazpi, and House officials were directed to drop them from the roll of members.

Oducado later clarified that his resignation was due to health and family concerns.

Despite resigning from Congress, Oducado said he remains committed to advocating for reforms and protecting the interests of Filipino families, workers, and future generations.

“Public service does not end with a position,” Oducado said. “I will continue fighting for reforms that uplift ordinary Filipinos wherever I may be.”