True to his word from the previous 19th Congress, Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez is throwing his full support behind the expansion of the Marcos administration's P20-per-kilo rice program, now referred to as ''Benteng Bigas, Meron Na''.

“The President is showing true leadership by making this vision come to life. And in Congress, we will do our part to make sure it stays, Romualdez, the House Speaker of the previous Congress,'' said in a statement Thursday, July 3.

It was during the 19th Congress when Romualdez earned the moniker Mr. Rice because of his penchant for giving away rice as ayuda or government aid.

“Alam nating bigas ang batayang pagkain sa bawat tahanan. Kaya ang P20 kada kilo na bigas ay hindi lang presyo—ito ay pag-asa para sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino (We all know that rice is a staple food in every household. That’s why the ₱20 per kilo price isn’t just a figure—it’s a symbol of hope for every Filipino family),” he said.

Romualdez--believed to be a shoo-in for Speaker in the current 20th Congress--says the House of Representatives is ready to work closely with the executive to ensure that this initiative gets the funding and legislative support it needs.

As part of this commitment, the Leyte solon filed House Bill (HB) No.1, or the Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act. It seeks to restore and strengthen the National Food Authority’s (NFA) power to stabilize rice prices, ensure adequate supply, and directly support both farmers and consumers.

He also authored HB No.14, which sought to expand the services of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to help farmers bounce back from typhoons, floods, and drought—protecting their income and food production for all Filipinos.

“Hindi natin kayang magtagumpay sa programang ito kung hindi natin palalakasin ang kakayahan ng ating mga magsasaka. They are the backbone of our food supply. They deserve our full support,” underscored Romualdez.

(We cannot succeed in this program unless we strengthen the capacity of our farmers. They are the backbone of our food supply. They deserve our full support.)

The Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president explained that sustainable rice affordability requires more than subsidies—it needs long-term investments in farm productivity: irrigation, modern machinery, accessible loans, and post-harvest facilities.

Before the close of the 19th Congress, Romualdez also tasked the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) to study how to institutionalize the P20-rice initiative as a national policy, so that it remains beyond any single administration.

“Every kilo of rice at P20 means a child eats well tonight, a parent sleeps with less worry, and a family gets to stretch their budget just a bit further. We cannot let that progress go to waste,” he added.

Romualdez assured the public that he will push for the full support of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Food Authority (NFA) in the 2026 national budget, which the House will tackle some time in August.

He says this will help ensure that President Marcos' program becomes not just a campaign success but a permanent part of Filipino life.