Adi Joaquim Tolentino

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said on May 4 that the House of Representatives would continue prioritizing job creation and food security, citing a recent survey showing overwhelming public support for these advocacies.

Photos Courtesy of Rise Against Hunger Philippines/EPA.

The Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, conducted from April 11 to 14 and commissioned by the Stratbase ADR Institute, found that 93 percent of Filipinos would vote for candidates who focus on employment generation and agricultural development.

“The survey confirms our legislative direction, a direction we have been proactively pursuing in the past months and years,” Romualdez said.

He stated the House has passed a series of laws aimed at strengthening the country’s job ecosystem and securing affordable food for Filipinos.

Among the major job-boosting laws, Romualdez cited RA 11962 or the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, which established a National Employment Master Plan, and RA 11966 or the Public-Private Partnership Code of 2023, which streamlines PPP approvals to attract investment.

“Ang lahat ng batas na ito, kapag pinagsama-sama, ay lumilikha ng isang buong ecosystem na nagbubukas ng mas maraming oportunidad para sa disenteng trabaho,” he said.

He also highlighted RA 11967 or the Internet Transactions Act, which created an E-Commerce Bureau to support the digital economy, and RA 11960 or the One Town, One Product Philippines Act, which promotes micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

On the issue of food security, Romualdez pointed to RA 11953 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which wrote off 57.56 billion pesos in land amortization debt owed by over 610,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries.

He said this was complemented by RA 12078 or the Rice Tarrification Act, which extended the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund until 2031 and tripled its yearly allocation to 30 billion pesos.

“Through the condonation law and the strengthened Rice Fund, we are providing farmers with real capital, not just hope,” Romualdez said.

He added that the House strongly backs the P20/kilo rice program to make rice affordable to the poor.

“The House of Representatives is fully committed to sustaining and expanding the recently launched P20 Rice Program nationwide. This initiative directly addresses the need for affordable food for every Filipino family, especially the most vulnerable. Through the government’s subsidy, strategic procurement, distribution reform, and partnerships with local producers, we will work to make this program a permanent and reliable pillar of our food security efforts that will go beyond political cycles,” he explained.

Romualdez also expressed support for the platforms of Alyansa ng Bagong Pilipinas candidates, whose priorities include livelihoods, welfare of farmers and fishers, and workers’ rights.

Looking ahead, he said the House in the 20th Congress will focus on passing bills that support MSMEs, boost agrarian innovation, and promote fair labor practices.

“This survey is a validation of the path we are already forging—one that leads to decent work, affordable food, and an economy that truly serves all,” he said.

These are aligned with broader initiatives under the administration of President Bongbong Marcos, particularly the P20/kilo rice program, which aims to address rising food prices and provide affordable rice to low-income Filipino families.

The said program was launched on May 1 in Cebu and is temporarily suspended due to the election period.