Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez returned to Congress with a legislative bang, filing 10 bills that immediately sparked national debate, including proposals to ban transgender women from female sports and dismantle the country’s K-12 education system.
One of the most polarizing measures, House Bill 365, seeks to prohibit natural-born males from participating in female sports categories, citing fairness and biological advantage. The bill is already drawing backlash from human rights advocates who accuse Gomez of discrimination.
Alongside the controversial sports bill, Gomez filed House Bill 374, a sweeping proposal to abolish the current K-12 system. He argued that the present framework has failed to address the educational deficits of Filipino children and called for a complete overhaul of the system imposed under Republic Act No. 10533.
Medical cannabis and sugar bans stir new conversations
Another headline-making proposal is House Bill 367, which pushes for access to medical cannabis and the creation of a dedicated Medical Cannabis Office. Gomez emphasized the need for compassionate care options, positioning the bill as a public health solution.
He also introduced House Bill 372, which aims to ban the use of public funds to procure sugar-sweetened beverages for government events. He believes public offices should model healthier consumption practices, especially amid rising diabetes and obesity rates in the country.
Railway system, disaster agency, and intelligence fund clampdown
Gomez is also making infrastructure and disaster preparedness a legislative priority. House Bill 369 seeks to establish a railway system across Eastern Visayas, covering Tacloban, Ormoc, Baybay, and Pintuyan. This massive transportation proposal hopes to boost local economies and connectivity.
In addition, House Bill 373 proposes the creation of a Department of Disaster Resilience to strengthen the country’s response to calamities.
He also filed House Bill 366, which prohibits the allocation of confidential and intelligence funds to agencies without security mandates. He believes transparency in government spending is critical, especially amid recent controversy over misuse of such funds.
Crackdown on drugs escalates with new court proposal
Gomez also introduced House Bill 370, seeking to establish exclusive Dangerous Drug Courts to handle all cases under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. This comes in tandem with House Bill 371, which proposes amendments to the same law to strengthen drug prevention and enforcement strategies.
Meanwhile, House Bill 368 calls for a new National Defense Act aimed at suppressing insurgency and other security threats, further aligning Gomez with the country’s growing national security agenda.
Despite the storm of criticism online, Gomez said these proposals reflect his commitment to peace, order, and progress in the 4th District. However, his swift legislative push has made one thing certain—his comeback in Congress will not go unnoticed.
Now the question is: how far will he go before the fire spreads beyond the halls of legislation?
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.