Lawmaker files 101 House bills in a week

MANILA, Philippines — With 101 bills filed, Rep. Michael Romero of the 1-Pacman party-list has clearly laid out a legislative agenda in the 18th Congress which include solutions to poverty and specific reforms in sports, the economy, telecomms, information technology and health services.

In the 17th Congress, Romero said he filed the most number of measures with about 500 House bills and resolutions.

“Twenty-six of my House bills were made into law. That is slightly more than 10 percent of total bills that became 250 new Republic Acts in the 17th Congress,” Romero said.

Some of Romero’s notable bills that became laws are the Rice Tariffication Act, the New Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Act, the Tax Amnesty Law, the Philippine Sports Training Center Act, Universal Health Care Act and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino (4Ps) Act.

Among the anti-poverty bills, Romero has specific measures on generic medicine, unconditional cash transfers, food safety, consumer rights, urban housing, socialized housing, community mortgage, farm mechanization and farms financing.

On telecomms and information tech, Romero’s bills tackled broadband services, data privacy, call center workforce rights, social media regulation and telecomms sector reforms, among others.

He continues to push for a Department of Sports, improved funding for the Philippine Sports Commission, creation of a medical tourism authority, improvements in the National Youth Commission and promotions for athletes in military service who earn podium medals in international sports competitions.

“Through these bills, we wish to uplift lives and lay out reforms that are advantageous to ordinary Filipinos,” Romero said.

Romero is president of the 54-member Party-list Coalition until 2022.