CAMARINES Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte yesterday backed the House leadership’s decision to focus on the exercise of its oversight functions with only six months left before the end of the 19th Congress, saying it keeps government officials on their toes to ensure productivity.
“Alongside its record legislative productivity, the House — on (Speaker Martin) Romualdez’ watch — has excellently harnessed its congressional oversight function to ensure government accountability in the implementation of programs and projects,” Villafuerte said in a statement.
Villafuerte particularly cited House investigations that are meant to uplift the lives of the poor and underprivileged sectors such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and solo parents.
In April last year, the Speaker announced that the House will shift its focus from legislation to oversight function after having passed President Marcos Jr.’s legislative priorities.
Romualdez vowed to zero in on the persistent high prices of rice and other essential commodities, which he did by forming the quinta committee, which is led by the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Salceda’s panel is joined by the House Committees on Trade and Industry, Agriculture and Food, Social Services, and the Special Committee on Food Security in the quinta comm, or the “Supercommittee on Cheap Food,” which was formed under House Resolution (HR) No. 254.
The quinta panel was created to address issues in the country’s food supply chain, including price manipulation, smuggling, and hunger but it will also look into the high electricity rates when session resumes next week.
The joint panel’s investigation is on top of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability’s investigation into Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds and the House quad committee’s probe into the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs.
Villafuerte, president of the National Unity Party (NUP), said that under Romualdez’s leadership, the House has thus far passed 1,368 measures, including 166 that have become laws, of which 73 are national laws and 93 are local ones.
He noted the 61 of 64 bills on the Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) list have been passed by the House, including 27 of the 28 measures identified by Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) for priority action.
