THE House of Representatives will focus on approving the proposed national budget for 2025 during the third and last regular session of the 19th Congress, Speaker Martin Romualdez said yesterday.
“Syempre naman ‘yung budget, kasi pagkatapos ng SONA (State of the Nation Address), isusumite na naman ‘yung budget sa 2025 (Of course, the budget is the most important [piece of legislation] because after the President’s SONA next month, the proposed budget for 2025 will be submitted to the House),” Romualdez said. “‘Yun ang pinakamabigat at pinakamalaking legislation (That’s the most crucial and the biggest piece of legislation).”
The Marcos administration is reportedly set to propose a record-high P6.2 trillion national budget for next year from this year’s P5.768 trillion outlay.
The 19th Congress opens its third and last session on July 22, the same day that President Marcos Jr. is set to deliver his third SONA.
The Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) has said the 2025 national budget is equivalent to 21.4 percent of GDP and higher by 7.5 percent compared to the 2024 national budget.
National Economic and Development Authority chief Arsenio Balisacan has said the budget shall support the Marcos administration’s Build Better More Program “to stay on course and maintain infrastructure spending between five to six percent of GDP from 2024 to 2028.”
Balisacan has also announced that the DBCC had to revise its target economic growth for 2024 following the Philippines’ performance in 2023, when growth fell short of government expectations. The target economic growth is now 6 to 7 percent from 6.5 to 7.5 percent.
Romualdez said Congress will also continue to fund the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)’s financial aid under the agency’s workers’ assistance program, the Tulong Panghanapbuhay para sa ating Disadvantaged at Displaced Workers or TUPAD.
As for the proposed amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), the House leader said the House and the Senate are close to agreeing on the proposals.
The suggested changes in the law seek to reinstate the palay-buying and rice-selling mandate of the National Food Authority (NFA) so the agency could influence rice prices in the retail market.
RTL
Romualdez said the two houses of Congress are close to reaching an agreement on the proposed amendments to the RTL following the first official meeting between him and Senate President Francis Escudero last Thursday.
“Ongoing po at mukhang nagkakasunduan na ang House at ang Senate at mukhang malapit na. Matatapos din at magkakaroon tayo ng magandang resolusyon (The discussuions are ongoing and it seems that the House and the Senate are seeing eye to eye and close to agreeing. It will be done and we’ll have a resolution),” Romualdez told reporters in an interview on the sidelines of the Agriculture Convergence Event in Tiaong town, Quezon province.
The event marked the district launch of the Farmers Assistance for Recovery and Modernization (FARM) program and the payout of assistance under the DOLE’s TUPAD program.
Romualdez has said he expects Sen. Cynthia Villar, who is opposed to the House’s proposal to restore the power of the NFA to directly import and sell rice, to file her version of the bill seeking amendments to the RTL.
As guest of honor and keynote speaker during the event organized by Deputy Speaker David “Jay-jay” Suarez of Quezon, the Speaker cited ongoing efforts to amend the RTL to provide further support to farmers and relief to consumers grappling from high rice prices.
The Speaker also emphasized the chamber’s support for the NFA and its initiative to sell rice purchased directly from farmers to the public.
The discussion on RTL amendments was a focal point of Romualdez’s meeting with Escudero at the Aguado Residence in Malacañang last Thursday.
Last May 21, the House approved on third and final reading the amendments to the RTL under House Bill (HB) No. 10381, which seeks to lower the price of rice to less than P30 from the current retail prices of between P40 to more than 50 per kilo.
The bill seeks to enhance the government’s buffer stocking capabilities and authorize market interventions to stabilize rice prices during emergency situations, ultimately easing the burden on consumers.
Under the bill, the NFA is tasked with registering and monitoring all grain warehouses, ensuring compliance with rice quality and supply standards, and maintaining a national database.
The NFA is also mandated to maintain sufficient buffer stock requirements sourced from local farmers or farmer organizations.
If necessary, the NFA can purchase local milled rice or import rice with explicit authorization from the secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The DA secretary can declare a food security emergency due to factors such as shortage in rice supply or sustained increase in rice prices.
The bill also strengthens the regulatory powers of the Bureau of Plant Industry, allowing inspection of warehouses to ensure compliance with sanitary, phytosanitary, and food safety standards.
The measure will also see the validity period of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) extended for six years, with an increased annual allocation from P10 billion to P15 billion to boost support to a range of initiatives, including farm mechanization, seed development, credit assistance, extension services, and soil health improvement.
A Rice Industry Development Program Management Office will be established to oversee the effective implementation of the government’s rice programs.
