Neophyte solon Salceda lands special committee chairmanship
Published Aug 5, 2025 01:40 pm
At A Glance
- In a rare move, House members have elected a neophyte or rookie lawmaker to lead the Special Committee on Food Security.
Albay 3rd district Rep. Raymond Adrian Salceda (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
In a rare move, House members have elected a neophyte or rookie lawmaker to lead the Special Committee on Food Security.
First-termer Albay 3rd district Rep. Raymond Adrian Salceda was chosen to serve as the chairman of the special panel, which will focus on three urgent goals: better farm gate prices, higher yields per hectare and less food waste across the supply chain.
"Itigil na natin 'yung malulugi ang magsasaka, pagkatapos hindi na makakapagsaka, kakapusin ang suplay ng pagkain, lalong kailangang mag-import, at sa dulo, lalong malulugi ang magsasaka (Let's make ways to stop farmers from generating losses and not able to harvest because it leads to low supply of food and the need to import. In the end, it's yet another loss for the farmers)," Salceda said.
"We must end this death spiral by making it viable and profitable to produce food at home," he added.
Salceda also bared plans to advocate for sharper, strategic focus on agricultural support, and said he wants to find out which specific agricultural industry the Philippines can compete with.
"Mais po, tingin ko, ang napabayaan pero kailangan din talaga ng suporta. Kasi kung walang suplay ng mais, walang suplay ng karne. Walang itlog. Bawas ang isda (I believe the corn industry is already being neglected, and it needs support. If there is no rice, there is no meat, no egg and less fish)," he said.
Salceda, in his first act as a legislator, filed House Bill (HB) No. 48, which sought to authorize the use of excess rice tariff revenues and allow the National Food Authority (NFA) to buy palay from farmers at better prices.
The proposal also aims to improve the agency’s storage and buffer stock systems, and in turn help reduce post-harvest losses and stabilize retail prices during supply shocks.
Beyond food policy, Salceda is also leading major reform efforts in Congress.
He is championing the abolition of the regional wage system, arguing that it entrenches inequality and depresses rural earnings.
He is also the first to file a proposed Freedom of Information Act in the 20th Congress, signaling a broader push for transparency and good governance.