SPEAKER Martin Romualdez had a quite funny encounter with an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who greeted Philippine officials in Japan.
The male OFW, who was carrying an open notebook scribbled with the call, “Please support Vice President Sara Duterte,” accidentally hit the Speaker in the face with the tip of the small Philippine flag that he was carrying.
Romualdez is with President Marcos Jr. in Tokyo for the ongoing Commemorative Summit on Japan-ASEAN relations.
In a 28-second clip that went viral on social media, Romualdez can be seen reading the sign before asking cameraman to take his photo with the OFW.
It was then that the Duterte fan accidentally hit the Speaker in the face with the flag, with the tip of the stick almost poking the House leader’s nose and eye.
Romualdez’ relationship with the Vice President has hit a snag after the House of Representatives decided to remove the confidential funds requested by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) under the 2024 national budget. The Vice President is the concurrent education secretary.
The OVP has requested P500 million and the DepEd asked for P150 million in confidential funds for next year. Both requests were denied. Instead, the funds were realigned to agencies directly involved in the protection of the country’s sovereign territories, especially in the West Philippine Sea.
In a statement, Romualdez said he agrees with the message of the OFW who greeted him in Japan.
“I agree with the [OFW] who greeted me in Japan with a placard bearing a significant message. We should all support and respect the Vice President. The same respect and support that we should extend to the President and other government officials,” he said.
In a separate statement, Romualdez cited the administration’s commitment to securing food security for the Filipino people.
“President Marcos’ focus on food security at the ASEAN-Japan Summit sends a clear message: the well-being of Filipino families is a top priority,” he said. “His efforts to secure robust partnerships and cutting-edge agricultural technology advancements directly translate to a more stable food supply and stronger economic opportunities for millions of Filipinos across the nation.”
Romualdez cited President Marcos’ emphasis on “enhancing resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems through new technologies and innovation” in the Chief Executive’s intervention during the first session of the summit.
He also noted the President’s acknowledgment of Japan’s ongoing support through the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve and the ASEAN-JICA Food Value Chain Development Project, which he said emphasized the direct benefits of the initiatives to provide for the food requirements of Filipinos.
Elaborating on the potential benefits of the President’s initiatives, Romualdez said the emergency rice reserve and collaborative food development projects “could provide crucial safeguards against food shortages and price fluctuations, protecting Filipino families from hunger and economic hardship.”
Likewise, he said the President’s call for embracing new technologies in agriculture “signals a commitment to modernizing food production and distribution, boosting efficiency and yielding increased harvests.”
“Investing in sustainable agricultural practices opens doors for job creation and economic growth in rural communities, strengthening livelihoods and improving the quality of life of our citizens,” he said.
