Marcos administration ally Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez welcomed on Thursday, July 24 the gains reflected in the 2024 Statistical Indicators on Philippine Development.

Romualdez, the House Speaker during the previous 19th Congress, says these are concrete manifestations that the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023–2028 of President Marcos is on the right track.

Released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on July 21, the report showed, among others, that food inflation dropped to 4.5 percent in 2024 from 8.0 percent in 2023—a significant decline of 3.5 percentage points—indicating easing prices across key food commodities.

To preserve and build upon these gains, Romualdez vowed to push for additional reforms in the 20th Congress focused on controlling inflation, reducing poverty, and accelerating inclusive economic growth, in full support of the Marcos administration's economic vision.

“These numbers clearly manifest the firm commitment of President Marcos to uplift the lives of our people. While we are pleased with these positive developments, a lot of work remains to be done to accelerate the pace toward achieving our President’s vision for a Bagong Pilipinas—where no one is left behind,” said the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president.

He noted that while progress has been made, many Filipino families—especially in rural and low-income communities—continue to struggle with the high cost of living, particularly food.

“Food prices may have eased, pero para sa maraming Pilipino, pagkain pa rin ang pinakamalaking gastusin. Kaya’t dapat unahin ng 20th Congress ang pagpasa ng mga batas na makakapagpababa pa ng presyo at makakagawa ng pagkain na abot-kaya at sapat para sa lahat,” he said.

(Food prices may have eased, but for many Filipinos, food remains the biggest expense. That’s why the 20th Congress must prioritize passing legislation that can further lower costs and ensure food is affordable and sufficient for all.)

The ex-Speaker says he is ready to support legislative proposals that provide stronger backing for local food producers, expand the country’s cold storage and logistics infrastructure, and build the capacity of local government units to better manage food supply chains.

He also pointed out the importance of modernizing national food agencies and clearly defining their mandates, especially in responding to supply shocks that affect market prices.

Romualdez also welcomed the PSA report showing that the national unemployment rate declined to 3.8 percent in 2024, down from 4.4 percent in 2023. This, he said, demonstrates a strengthening labor market, but underscored the importance of sustaining and deepening these gains.

He emphasized that beyond increasing employment, Congress must also focus on raising job quality and addressing underemployment.

He said this can be done by expanding access to technical-vocational education and digital upskilling programs, while also providing incentives to companies that create stable, long-term jobs in provinces outside Metro Manila.

To ensure that the benefits of national growth reach more communities, he said Congress must prioritize legislation that promotes public-private partnerships, simplifies business processes, and improves access to capital for small and medium-sized enterprises. He added that national development must translate to opportunities at the local level.

“We need to legislate development that spreads, not concentrates. The goal is not just national growth but local opportunity," added Romualdez, who is expected to reprise his role as Speaker in the current 20th Congress.

Romualdez also emphasized the importance of grounding legislation in data-driven policymaking. He said the PSA’s statistical indicators provide a vital tool in assessing whether government programs are achieving their goals, and that Congress has a duty to align its efforts with measurable targets set in the PDP.

“Our job is to turn plans into laws—and laws into better lives,” Romualdez said.