FIRST-TERM Representative Raymond Adrian Salceda of Albay’s 3rd District has been elected Chair of the House Special Committee on Food Security, making him one of the few first-term legislators to lead a House committee in the current Congress.
A native of Polangui and former municipal mayor, Salceda represents the rural and coastal heartland of Albay’s food production zone. His district is the rice granary of the province, where farming remains the backbone of the local economy and continues to employ the majority of people.
Salceda was recently conferred the Gawad Saka National Award for Outstanding Municipal Local Government Unit, the highest recognition given by the Department of Agriculture to local governments. He is also a two-time recipient of the Seal of Good Local Governance, awarded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government for excellence in transparency, disaster preparedness, social protection, and financial administration.
As Chair of the Food Security Committee, Salceda is prioritizing three urgent goals: better farm gate prices for farmers, 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,” Salceda said. “We must end this death spiral by making it viable and profitable to produce food at home.”
He is also advocating for sharper strategic focus in agricultural support. “Isa pa po, gusto kong tutukan natin saan ba talaga tayo pwedeng makipag-compete sa buong mundo. 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,” he emphasized.
As his first legislative act, Salceda filed House Bill No. 48, which seeks to authorize the use of excess rice tariff revenues to allow the National Food Authority to buy palay from farmers at better prices. The proposal also improves the agency’s storage and buffer stock systems, helping 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 the Freedom of Information Act in the 20th Congress, signaling a broader push for transparency and good governance.
Salceda’s leadership comes at a time of renewed national focus on strengthening food production, cutting import dependency, and protecting the livelihoods of food producers.
