House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez stepped down as head of the Lower Chamber on Wednesday, admitting that ''the longer I stay, the heavier that burden grows on me, on this house and on the President I've always sought to support.''

Romualdez, the first cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., was replaced by Isabela Rep. Faustino Dy III following an election where 253 House members installed him as its new head.

''We now forward to working with Speaker Faustino Dy III to advance measures that strengthen the economy, ensure basic services and protect our democracy,'' the Palace said.

Romualdez was referring to allegations cast by a husband and wife contractor of flood control projects that his name and that former House appropriations panel head Rep. Zaldy Co were being name dropped by lawmakers and public works officials who ask the couple for commissions for government projects.

Pacifico Discaya, the husband, clarified that he did not transact with Romualdez.

Dy told the House that '' we have had some shortcomings. We humble ourselves before you.'' '' We are asking for a chance to correct wrong practices and clean our rallies.''

Romualdez's resignation took place three days before rallies against corruption, especially on flood control projects, was to be held on Sunday at Luneta and Edsa Shrine. Organizers are trying to assemble hundreds of thousands in the two demonstrations show people's displeasure over billions of pesos lost over ghost projects. DMS