FOOD SECURITY
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has delivered a rallying cry against profiteers, smugglers, and hoarders, as he vowed that Congress would take aggressive steps to stabilize food prices and ensure affordable basic goods for Filipinos.
Romualdez declared food security as a top priority and pledged that the House of Representatives would uphold its duty to protect the people.
The House leader likewise emphasized the government’s efforts to address high food prices, citing recent tariff cuts on imported rice and the need to investigate why costs remain elevated despite sufficient supply.
“The government is doing everything. Alam mo naman kaka-cut lang natin ng taripa para sa mga imported rice, from 35 to 15 percent. Ang dami-daming supply na naiimbak dyan pero bakit mataas pa rin ‘yung presyo?” Romualdez said.
“That is what we are trying to ferret out. Bakit nga ba hanggang ngayon hindi pa bumababa ang presyo ng bigas?” he added.
Issuing a direct warning to profiteers and price manipulators, Romualdez vowed to take decisive action.
“Sa mga profiteers dyan, ‘yung mga unscrupulous traders and wholesalers, we are going after you. The House will go after you. We will not allow this abuse to happen, lalo na itong panahon ng Pasko,” he declared.
He highlighted the House Quinta Comm, also known as the Murang Pagkain Super Committee, as a key force in the fight against smuggling, price manipulation, and rising hunger.
This “super committee” brings together five committees—Ways and Means, Trade and Industry, Agriculture and Food, Social Services, and Food Security—to address weaknesses in government programs and ensure accountability for market abuses.
“Our aim is to bring food prices to reasonable levels. This is about ensuring affordable rice and quality food for every Filipino,” Romualdez said.
To date, the Quinta Comm is now working closely with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Customs (BOC), and Department of Agriculture (DA) to conduct inspections of warehouses suspected of hoarding rice and other staples.
Romualdez also praised the work of the Quad Comm, describing it as the legislature’s “truth commission” tasked with exposing corruption and systemic irregularities.
“Parang nagiging truth commission na ngayon ‘yung Quad eh. Nagiging truth commission na ngayon ‘yung mga efforts natin dito sa Congress. Because this is the place, itong venue natin, ‘yung forum where we can come out and ferret out the truth,” he said.
The Quad Comm—comprising the Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts—has focused its investigations on issues such as illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), the illicit drug trade, land-grabbing by foreign nationals, and alleged extrajudicial killings linked to the Duterte administration’s brutal war on drugs.
Romualdez likewise underscored the importance of the Blue Ribbon Committee, formally known as the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.
He commended its ongoing investigations into the alleged misuse of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education under Vice President Sara Duterte.
