Romualdez files priority bills on NFA reform, OFW aid, CDC creation

By Jose Cielito Reganit, Philippine News Agency

Romualdez also filed House Bill No. 2, which proposes to exempt overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from PhilHealth premium contributions. (File Photo: House of Representatives of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – Reelected Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Monday 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.

Leading the legislative agenda is House Bill No. 1, or the “Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act,” which seeks to amend the Rice Tariffication Law and restore key regulatory powers to the National Food Authority (NFA).

The measure aims to curb rice hoarding, stabilize supply, and secure fair farmgate prices for Filipino farmers.

“Rice is life, and it is the soul of every Filipino family’s dining table. That is why this bill is the very first we filed in the 20th Congress. It reflects our singular focus on the daily struggle of every Filipino family to put affordable food on the table, and the need to reward our farmers with fair prices for their hard work,” Romualdez said.

Under the RICE Act, the NFA will regain authority to register and license grain warehouses, conduct inspections, and monitor the rice trade.

It will also have the power to seize hoarded rice stocks and release them to the public to counteract artificial shortages or price spikes. It also mandates the NFA to maintain buffer stocks sourced from local palay, and authorizes it to set and enforce a floor price for palay purchases.

HB 1 also outlines penalties of up to PHP2 million and two years of imprisonment for violators of the floor price policy, and imposes lifetime disqualification from public office for government officials who aid or abet hoarding or profiteering schemes.

PhilHealth premium exemption for OFWs

Romualdez also filed House Bill No. 2, which proposes to exempt overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from PhilHealth premium contributions.

The measure aims to “strengthen the country’s healthcare system to better achieve efficiency and equity and improve public health emergency preparedness.”

It proposes various changes in Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known as the “Universal Health Care Act.”

Under the proposal, the government and employers will share the responsibility for any remaining contributions, while the bill prohibits using PhilHealth funds for unrelated government expenses.

“This strengthens health equity while honoring our modern-day heroes,” Romualdez said.

PH Centers for Disease Prevention and Control

To enhance public health readiness, Romualdez filed House Bill No. 3 to establish the Philippine Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC).

Once passed into law, the CDC is mandated to develop strategies, standards, and policies for disease prevention and control; implement disease surveillance and field epidemiology activities; perform data collection and analytics; establish and strengthen public health laboratories; set standards and policies for private laboratories; recommend actions for public health threats to appropriate national government bodies; lead public health and risk communications; conduct and manage health research and evidence synthesis; build local capacity for surveillance and health research; and promote scientific integrity.

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.