20th Congress to focus on food, jobs agenda
The upcoming 20th Congress will likely focus on food security and livelihood, following the lead of President Marcos, whose public engagements last week focused on agricultural projects across the country.
“As with the RICE (Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment) bill and other proposed laws, the focus is on concrete help for the people: affordable, enough and safe food, and opportunities for livelihood),” said lawyer Princess Abante, spokesperson of the House of Representatives.
The RICE bill, which seeks to lower and stabilize rice prices through the reorganization of the National Food Authority, was filed when lawmakers’ terms began on Monday and even before the start of the 20th Congress on July 28.
“There is broad political support for affordable food programs, especially those that protect both ends of the supply chain, the rice farmers and the consuming public,” Abante said. “I think no one will oppose having affordable rice for our citizens.”
The House spokesperson also highlighted bills seeking to strengthen the Universal Health Care Act, to establish the Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control, and to support voucher programs for private basic education.
Abante issued the statement after Mr. Marcos on Thursday ordered government agencies to expand his administration’s flagship “Benteng Bigas Meron Na” program that provides rice costing P20 per kilo to poor families.
According to the Department of Agriculture, the President has so far launched 94 outlets—the last one in Bacoor City in Cavite on Wednesday—to sell rice at the subsidized price of P20 and more outlets will be established in key urban centers to reach 15 million beneficiaries by next year.
Malacañang said the President also instructed the Department of Social Welfare and Development to identify areas where more members of vulnerable sectors can benefit from the “Benteng Bigas” program.
Use our coconuts
Acknowledging the vital role of the coconut processing industry in driving economic growth and creating local employment, President Marcos personally conveyed his support for its continued participation in national development on Friday.
On Friday, the President went to General Santos City to visit the coconut processing facility of the Century Pacific Agricultural Ventures Inc. and confer with fishers at the city’s fish port complex as he inspected cold chain facilities.
According to Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro, one of the President’s most notable certified projects is a large-scale coconut processing facility projected to generate 4,725 jobs, as well as a set of breeder farms that will employ over 1,000 Filipinos.
Castro said the Department of Trade and Industry has fast-tracked the approval of 31 strategic projects worth P18.7 billion through the issuance of “green lane” certifications. These projects are expected to generate 7,000 new jobs, she said.
Castro said that to date, 17 of the 31 projects are in the predevelopment stage, seven are under construction, six are already operational and one is in the pre-operational phase.
