‘Satisfaction rating shows House on right track’

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez is “on the right track” as the chamber tries to help the Marcos administration lower the prices of rice, among others, a congressman said.

“Regardless of what naysayers have been saying, the people have apparently started appreciating the work that he did, and of course with us as support group. Kudos to (the) Speaker for a job well done. His heart is definitely on the right place,” Cavite 4th District Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., who chairs the House committee on environment and natural resources, said following the lower chamber’s latest 54 percent satisfaction rating.

“Just like in basketball, we did good in the first half of the game. So now, we will keep and even step up the pace until the end of the race,” Barzaga added.

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, who chairs the House committee on appropriations, has proposed a mechanism called contract-growing between the government and local farmers to stabilize rice prices in the market.

Co said contract-growing would benefit both the consumers and farmers because while it would result in steady rice prices, as such an approach would also ensure a profitable market for farmers.

Contract-growing should involve large agricultural corporations managing vast tracts of farmlands.

Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. thanked Filipinos for continuing to show trust satisfaction for the performance of the 19th Congress (2022-2025), saying their veritable vote of approval further galvanizes the lawmakers to work hard.

“To know that more than half of our countrymen trust us and approve of what we have been doing in this chamber galvanizes us to push forward. If they like what they see, then more of it they will see,” Gonzales, who represents Pampanga’s third district, said.

Results of an OCTA survey released late last month showed that 54 percent of Filipinos were satisfied with the performance of the House under Romualdez.

Only nine percent were dissatisfied, while 36 percent were undecided.

The Speaker vowed to continue working hard in the wake of the House’s high ratings.

“I thank our people for recognizing the work we do at the House for them and the nation under the Marcos administration. That will inspire us to push on and even work harder to remain worthy of their trust,” Romualdez said.

He added that he is grateful that the public appreciates what he and his fellow lawmakers have been doing in terms of passing necessary legislative measures to support Marcos’ prosperity agenda.

At the same time, he was also glad that Filipinos have been receptive to the House’s decision to exercise its oversight power to fight inflation and keep prices down so that basic goods would be affordable to the people, especially the poor.

“We have made some headway, and we will carry on with those tasks with more vigor until we have achieved the goals we have set out to do,” Romualdez said.