Sign in Subscribe
Food supply

Landmark Bills Filed by Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to Enhance Food Security, Health Care, and Pandemic Preparedness

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Reelected Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has filed three landmark bills aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s administration priorities, aiming to address pressing issues in food security, health care, and pandemic preparedness. The bills, filed on Monday, are designed to strengthen the country's healthcare system, promote efficient disease prevention and control, and provide relief to Filipino workers and farmers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez filed three landmark bills aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s administration priorities, including crucial reforms in food security, health care, and pandemic preparedness.
  • The House Bill No. 1, or the "Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act," seeks to amend the Rice Tariffication Law and restore key regulatory powers to the National Food Authority (NFA) to curb rice hoarding, stabilize supply, and secure fair farmgate prices for Filipino farmers.
  • The RICE Act proposes to give the NFA authority to register and license grain warehouses, conduct inspections, and monitor the rice trade, with penalties of up to PHP2 million and two years of imprisonment for violators of the floor price policy.
  • Rep. Romualdez also filed House Bill No. 2, which proposes to exempt overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from PhilHealth premium contributions, and House Bill No. 3 to establish the Philippine Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) to enhance public health readiness.
  • The CDC will consist of four main divisions: the Center for Health Statistics, Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance, Center for Health Evidence, and Center for Health Laboratories.

Statistics:

  • Up to PHP2 million in penalties for violators of the floor price policy in the rice industry.
  • 20th Congress: The sequence of Congress in the Philippines where the bills were filed.
  • 2 years of imprisonment for violators of the floor price policy in the rice industry.
  • OFWs: Overseas Filipino workers, who are proposed to be exempt from PhilHealth premium contributions.
  • 80% of the country's healthcare budget: The portion allocated to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, as proposed in the Universal Health Care Act.
  • PHP12 billion: The projected annual savings from the efficiency brought about by the proposed measures in PhilHealth premium contributions.

Sources:

  • (Philippines News agency) June 30, 2025
  • Article: "Reelected Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez Files Three Landmark Bills Aligned with Marcos Admin Priorities"

Read more