KINILALA ni Speaker Martin G. Romualdez ang kahalagahan ng congressional spouses sa bansa.

Sa kanyang mensahe sa oath-taking ng Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc. (CSFI), sinabi ni Romualdez na malaki ang impluwensya ng mga asawa sa kanilang mga kongresistang kabiyak.

“As our spouses are our partners in life, they have a huge influence in what we do, what we believe in, what we fight for, and what we will accomplish for our community and our country,” sabi ni Romualdez.

Ayon kay Romualdez ang CSFI ay mayroon ding sariling inisyatiba at ipinatutupad na programa.

“And in the case of the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc., their influence is directly translated into action. They have their own initiatives that are parallel to our own, and they implement socio-civic projects that meet the short and long-term needs of our constituents,” dagdag pa ni Romualdez.

Pinangasiwaan ni Romualdez ang panunumpa sa tungkulin ang mga regional head ng CSFI na sina Arlyn Grace V. Guico (Region 1), Maria Sol A. Fernandez (II), Victor Anthony S. Silverio (III), Maria Cristina R. Puno (IV-A), Eva Christie Fatima H. Villegas (IV-B), Anjeanette T. Fuentebella (V), Angelica G. Alvarez (VI), Nixon T. Dizon (VII), Roger T. Mercado (VIII), Keenah V. Dalipe (IX), Yevonna Yacine B. Emano (X), Bernadette S. Barbers (XIII), Giselle Mary L. Maceda (NCR), Soledad J. Go (CAR), Indira Maila P. Adiong (BARMM), at Edna M. Marcoleta (Party-list).

Nanumpa rin ang mga Board member ng CSFI na sina Rosario V. Maceda (Corporate Secretary and Legal Counsel), Evelina G. Escudero (Treasurer), Michelle Tiangco (Assistant Treasurer), Elisa Olga T. Kho (Auditor), at Amy R. Alvarez (Assistant Auditor).

Dumalo rin sa seremonya si CSFI President-designate at dating Deputy Speaker Rose Marie “Baby” Arenas, at dating Deputy Speaker Evelina Escudero.

Ang may-bahay ni Romualdez na si House Committee on Accounts chairperson at Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez ang chairperson ng CSFI.

Sa kanyang talumpati, sinabi ni Rep. Yedda na mayroong ginagampanang mahalagang papel ang mga asawa upang maging epektibo sa kanilang trabaho ang kanilang mga kongresistang kabiyak.

“I am honored to be the Chairperson of this distinguished association consisting of the people whom I believe has the most influential role in Congress,” sabi ni Rep. Yedda. “Our roles as spouses are extremely consequential and substantive in ensuring that our partners become most effective in fulfilling their duties in office and even boost the morale of their staff.”

Ang CSFI ay itinayo noong Abril 21, 1988 ng mga asawa ng mga kongresista sa pangunguna ni Cecilia Blanco Mitra, ang may-bahay ng 8th Congress Speaker na si Ramon Mitra, Jr.