Under the leadership of Newly-elected House Minority Leader Joseph Stephen Paduano, the House Minority bloc is expected to look into the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law, particularly on the proper use of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN).
The move is expected to ensure that the incremental revenue from the sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) goes directly to the sugar farmers.
Paduano said among the bloc’s “priorities" will be the probe on the implementation of the RCEF under Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law, and on the disbursement of incremental revenue from the SSB to the sugar farmers as provided under Republic Act 10963 or TRAIN Law.
“Actually, we are still collecting and consolidating all the priority bills of all the members of the House . But, for now there are pending resolutions and bills na kailangan ng pansin ng Minority (that needs the attention of the Minority). For example, the RCEF, the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, kelagan natin mabusisi 'yung implementation (we need to scrutinize its implementation),” he said in a virtual press briefing.
The Abang Lingkod partylist lawmaker said as part of its oversight function, the House Minority should look into the implementation of the RCEF.
Under R.A. No. 11203, which was signed by President Duterte in February last year, RCEF allocates 10 percent of its P10 billion allocation--or P1 billion--for credit to farmers and cooperatives.
Paduano said his group also wants to know if the 15 percent of the incremental revenue from SSB under TRAIN Law directly goes to the sugar farmers.
“For the past two years, since 2018, zero, nothing goes to the sugar industry,” he said.
Paduano said the House Minority also wants to see real reforms in the corruption-infested Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
"We want to see the final committee report because you know, I am one of the first to file a resolution to investigate PhilHealth. We want to see the committee report,” he said.
The continued joint probe of the House Committee on Public Accounts, and the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on the alleged graft and corruption did not push through last Monday, after the House leadership decided to cancel all the committee meetings or hearings for one week starting Monday, Oct. 19.
Paduano said under his leadership, the bloc will also push for continued probe on the supposed unexplainable and shocking spikes in electricity costs in the country.
“That includes electric cooperatives in the country. It does not only affect Metro Manila, bit it affects consumers all over the country,” Paduano said.
Paduano was unanimously elected as the House Minority Leader on October 19, replacing Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr.