Malaki umano ang maiaambag ni Valenzuela City Rep. Rex Gatchalian sa Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Ayon kay Speaker Romualdez si Gatchalian kapuri-puri ang ginawang pagpili ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. kay Gatchalian na mayroong malawak na karanasan sa pagseserbisyo sa publiko.

“Cong., now Secretary Rex, the loss of Congress is the gain of the DSWD. We wish you the best of luck,” ani Speaker Romualdez.

“We know that you’re going to do a fantastic job. You’ve done so well in Valenzuela, we know your public service, your dedication, your diligence, your energy, will translate to further success for the DSWD,” sabi pa ni Speaker Romualdez.

Tiniyak naman ni Speaker Romualdez na hindi mapapabayaan ang mga constituent ni Gatchalian na kakailanganing bitiwan ang kanyang posisyon bilang kongresista sa kanyang pamumuno sa DSWD.

“Usually, when a vacancy occurs such as in the case where Cong. Rex Gatchalian has been appointed and has now taken his oath as Secretary of the DSWD—-there’s a vacancy—so there will be a caretaker for that situation of his absence,” dagdag pa ni Speaker Romualdez.

Sinabi ni Speaker Romualdez na kokonsultahin si Gatchalian at ang kanyang partidong Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) sa pagpili ng magiging caretaker ng kanyang distrito.

“So mabuhay po ang DSWD with the assumption of the new Secretary. And we wish Sec. Rex Gatchalian—a good friend of mine, a classmate of mine in the 14th Congress— all the best. And for the DSWD, please continue your excellent service to the Filipino people,” sabi pa ng lider ng Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso.