MANILA – The House of Representatives would conduct investigations to address increasing rice and power prices.
At the resumption of session following the Christmas recess, Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday said the investigations will focus on smuggling and hoarding that harm farmers and inflate food prices, as well as the PHP206 billion in disallowed expenditures by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
“Good governance demands transparency and accountability. This chamber is the vanguard of that principle. In the coming weeks, we will hold oversight hearings to ensure that the people’s money serves the people’s needs,” Romualdez said in his speech.
The quinta committee and the House Committee on Ways and Means have started looking into the high cost of rice and other agricultural products and of electricity and alleged violations by NGCP of its legislative franchise.
The quinta committee is composed of Ways and Means, Trade and Industry, Agriculture and Food, Social Services, and Special Committee on Food Security.
Romualdez said the chamber would also scrutinize PHP11.18 billion in expired medicines and underutilized Philippine Health Insurance Corporation funds, as well as alleged misuse of confidential funds.
“No peso must go unaccounted for,” he said. “Let this be our promise: Public trust is sacred and this House will never betray it.”
Legislative milestones
Romualdez touted the House’s achievements, noting that 183 measures were enacted into law in 2024, including economic reforms, national security initiatives, and education programs.
“True success lies not in the quantity of laws passed but, in their quality — how they change lives,” he said.
Among these were the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy Act, Self-Reliant Defense Posture Act, Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, Philippine Maritime Zones Act, and the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Act.
“These are not just policies. They are commitments to a better, fairer and stronger nation,” he said.
Economic gains
Romualdez lauded the country’s economic resilience, citing a projected growth rate of 5.9 percent to 6.5 percent despite global uncertainties and natural disasters.
He attributed this performance to the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the administration’s infrastructure program, which injected PHP1.2 trillion into the economy.
“This growth is the fruit of visionary leadership under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and his transformative Build, Better, More infrastructure program, which injected over PHP1.2 trillion into projects that now connect dreams to opportunities across the archipelago,” he said.
Romualdez, however, stressed that economic growth should benefit ordinary Filipinos.
He said that while inflation remains a concern, though it eased to 4.9 percent in December, government programs such as Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program and Kadiwa ng Pangulo aim to mitigate its impact.
Global stage
Romualdez, meanwhile, underscored the Philippines’ growing role on the international stage as the country is set to host the Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum next month, with 96 countries discussing issues such as counter terrorism and cybersecurity.
In 2026, the Philippines will chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and host the 47th Inter-Parliamentary Assembly General Assembly.
He further highlighted that the USD100 billion in investments secured through President Marcos’ state visits reflect international confidence in the country’s future
“These investments will transform industries, generate employment, and push the Philippines toward a new era of prosperity,” Romualdez said.
He called on his colleagues to rise above partisanship and to continue working to uplift their constituents.
“Let us legislate with empathy, govern with integrity, and lead with vision. Let us build a nation where every Filipino, no matter their station, feels the hand of government working for their benefit…Together, we will ensure that no Filipino is left behind,” he said. (PNA)