<\/p>\n
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday vowed to mobilize the full legislative power of Congress to make President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.\u2019s P20 per kilo rice program permanent and sustainable, ensuring both price relief for consumers and long-term support for farmers.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In a high-level meeting with Agriculture Secretary Francisco \u201cKiko\u201d Tiu Laurel Jr. and Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Alvin John Balagbag, Speaker Romualdez committed to personally sponsor and champion the Department of Agriculture\u2019s (DA) priority reform bills \u2014 placing them at the very top of the 20th Congress\u2019 legislative agenda.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThese are not just bills \u2014 they are blueprints for lasting change. I will personally sponsor these measures to institutionalize President Marcos\u2019 vision of affordable rice for all and stronger support for our farmers,\u201d Speaker Romualdez declared.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Those who also joined the meeting were House Committee on Agriculture chairman Mark Enverga of Quezon, House Majority Leader Mannix M. Dalipe, Deputy Speaker David \u201cJay-jay\u201d Suarez of Quezon, Camiguin Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, Deputy Speaker Antonio \u201cTonypet\u201d Albano of Isabela, House Secretary General Reginald \u201cReggie\u201d Velasco and Isabela Gov. Rodito Albano III.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The priority measures presented by the DA and now adopted by the Speaker include: 1. Amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) \u2014 restoring key regulatory powers to the National Food Authority (NFA) to stabilize prices and protect local production; 2. Livestock Development and Competitiveness Act; 3. Philippine Corn Industry Development Act; 4. Onion Research Center Act; 5. Amendments to RA No. 7308 or the Seed Industry Development Act of 1992; 6. Amendments to the Local Government Code to strengthen agricultural extension services at the LGU level.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThese measures are critical to transforming our food system \u2014 from farm to market \u2014 and making sure no Filipino is left hungry or helpless in the face of price shocks,\u201d Speaker Romualdez said.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLegislation is the strongest tool we have to make this program permanent.\u201d He underscored that the P20\/kilo rice is not just a price point \u2014 it is a national commitment that requires bold reforms in agriculture, pricing and rural development.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSisiguruhin natin na may P20 per kilo na bigas sa merkado para sa mga nangangailangan \u2014 hindi lang ngayon, kundi sa mga susunod pang taon,\u201d Speaker Romualdez stressed. \u201c<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We will build a system where affordable rice is not a seasonal miracle, but a daily reality.\u201d The Speaker added: \u201cTo do that, we must uplift our farmers. We cannot ask them to feed the nation without feeding their hopes. These laws will give them better seeds, tools, market access, and dignity.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Speaker Romualdez praised Laurel and Balagbag for laying down a clear, actionable roadmap for reform. He assured the DA of the House\u2019s unwavering partnership in delivering meaningful results for both producers and consumers.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhether you\u2019re a farmer in the fields of Isabela or a mother budgeting for the week in Metro Manila, this program is for you,\u201d Speaker Romualdez said. \u201cTogether, we will deliver affordable rice, a stronger agriculture sector, and a future where no Filipino is left behind,\u201d the House leader said.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAng P20 kada kilo ng bigas ay hindi lang pangarap. Sa tulong ng batas, determinasyon, at pagkakaisa, gagawin natin itong permanente at tuloy-tuloy,\u201d Speaker Romualdez concluded.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday vowed to mobilize the full legislative power of Congress to make President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s P20 per<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14257,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14256"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14256"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14256\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14258,"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14256\/revisions\/14258"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}