Ronnie Ong

---

Ronnie Lim Ong is a Filipino politician currently serving as the second nominee of the Ang Probinsyano Partylist and is an elected representative at the House of Representatives of the Philippines as of the 18th Congress.

He is a proponent of the Foundling Welfare Act and has championed policies promoting employment, protection of children and senior citizens, and animal welfare. Projects such as the Tulong sa Senior Citizen Work Program, establishment of e-learning hubs dubbed as “E-skwela Hubs,” around the nation were his brainchild.

At the 18th Congress, he is currently Vice-Chairperson of the House Committees on Rural Development, Foreign Affairs, Tourism, and Games and Amusement, while also serving as a Member of the House Committees on Appropriations, Ways and Means, Bicol Recovery and Economic Development, Economic Affairs, and Information and Communications Technology. He is an advocate for legislation and programs centering on labor and employment, fair trade, access to education, rights of foundlings, overseas workers, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities (PWDs), as well as animal welfare in the country.

Rep. Ronnie Ong was recently featured in People Asia Magazine as “A congressman in the frontlines”, and was applauded and commended for his unwavering on-the-ground service to the Filipino people amidst the pandemic.

Early Life and Education

Ong was born on November 2, 1970, in Manila. He finished his undergraduate studies at the De La Salle University in 1995 with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design. He is married to Jocelyn R. Ong, with three children.

18th Congress Landmark Legislation

Representative Ong's

House Bill No. 3472 Foundling Welfare Act

This bill promotes the rights of foundlings -- defined as deserted or abandoned children with unknown parents -- where foundlings are declared and given status as natural-born citizens of the Philippines and shall automatically be accorded such rights and protection as those belonging to such class of citizens.

House Bill No. 3887 Regional One-Stop Shop Centers for OFWs (ROSSCO) Act

This bill institutionalizes the Regional One-Stop Shop Program for OFWs nationwide, involving frontline government agencies availed the most by prospective, current, and returning OFWs.

House Bill No. 5362 Senior Citizens' Employment Act

This bill promotes the employment of willing and able-bodied senior citizens in the workforce and provides incentives to companies who continue to hire senior citizens.

House Bill No. 6895 An Act Lengthening the School Calendar to 220 Days

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the school calendar was lengthened to 220 days instead of 200 days, as well as giving the Philippine president powers to adjust the opening of classes in times of any national emergency. This bill was ratified into law as R.A. 11480 on July 17, 2020.

House Bill No. 7202 Trans Fat Law

Seeks the regulation of food products containing trans-fatty acids (TFA) and promotes healthier but equally affordable TFA alternatives to prevent the risk of comorbidities like heart diseases, which puts Filipino people in danger of contracting diseases like COVID-19.

House Bill No. 81 Artists’ Safety on Set (ASSET) Act

This bill seeks to protect all kinds of artists, famous or not, and regardless of contractual arrangement (employed or independent contractor) from injuries, hazards, and deaths.

House Bill No. 3983 Synchronized Academic Calendar Act

This bill mandates synchronization of the academic calendar to provide standard learning and exchange opportunities not just on a national level but on an international level.

House Bill No. 4092 Pro-Poor and PWD Access to Government Act

This bill prohibits discrimination against persons, especially the poor and PWDs, in terms of dress code, clothing, or appearance, which hinders their entrance and access to government offices.

House Bill No. 4462 Mandating MARINA or Maritime Industry Authority to promote Fair Shipping Charges

This bill addresses the current gap in existing maritime law by mandating MARINA to prescribe charges pertinent to the operation of public water transport utilities, facilities, and services, as well as promoting fair and transparent shipping charges among agents and forwarders of international shipping lines.

House Bill No. 6059 Prevention of Abuse on OFWs

This bill provides an active monitoring and urgent response mechanism to address incidents and emergencies endangering the life, limb, and liberty of our OFWs and to instill that consciousness among our frontline government agencies and stakeholders, under pain of administrative and criminal penalty.

House Bill 7868 New Normal of Voting for Senior Citizens

This bill mandates the COMELEC to develop a new normal of voting to avoid disenfranchising millions of senior citizens and PWDs and allow them to vote early, as well as put up the necessary protocol to protect their life and health while they vote in the 2022 elections.

House Resolution No. 2 Suspending the Implementation of the Provincial Bus Ban

This resolution urges the MMDA, DOTr, and LTFRB to suspend the provincial bus ban, revisit the implementation of the Integrated Terminal Scheme, and find non-oppressive and less intrusive solutions that will improve traffic conditions along EDSA without unduly burdening millions of Probinsyanos from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

House Resolution No. 198 Port Fees Addressing High Import Costs and Inflation due to Excessive Destination Charges of International Shipping Lines

This resolution urges the DTI, DOTr, and DOF to immediately address the high import costs imposed by international shipping lines and/or their agents, resulting in nationwide inflation and unduly burdening Filipino consumers and businesses. This resolution aims to regulate the excessive and questionable destination charges on imports due to the absence of a mandated government agency strictly imposing port and shipping regulations and policies.

House Resolution No. 206 Animal Welfare Act in Pounds and Shelters Nationwide

This resolution seeks to review the implementation of animal welfare laws in the country to ensure humane and standardized treatment for all dogs, cats, and other stray animals in animal pounds and shelters nationwide, as well as promoting the intensification of spay/neuter programs and animal adoption programs.

House Resolution No. 359 Directing that the Bidding for the Philippine Lottery System (PLS) of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) be in Accordance to Laws and Best Practices

This resolution ensures bidding for the PLS of the PCSO is in accordance with procurement laws.

House Resolution No. 477 Proper Documentation and Protection of Employees by Rationalizing the Gaming Employment Licenses (GELs)

This resolution urges PAGCOR, DOLE, DOF, DOJ BID, BIR, NBI, and other concerned agencies to endeavor to immediately find ways to make the GEL ID the primary documentation tool or legal proof of employment and streamline and harmonize the corresponding procedures and fees, so that we can ultimately realize the policy of generating revenues for projects benefiting the provinces nationwide while addressing the evils, malpractices, and corruption that are normally prevalent in the club, casino, and POGO industry.

House Resolution No. 798 Alleged Illegal Activities of Unscrupulous Traders and Consignees-for-Hire

This resolution directs the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the alleged illegal activities of unscrupulous traders and alleged consignees-for-hire to evade the rightful payment of import taxes to the Philippine government.

House Resolution No. 256 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Education

This resolution provides for Congress and relevant government agencies to resolve the following: relevancy, creativity, and effectiveness of methods employed, with emphasis on teaching and actual application of life-saving and disaster survival and management skills, and determining best practices of schools nationwide, as well as providing for the participation of the youth in quick response groups and other disaster risk reduction and management activities, especially in identified disaster-prone areas.

House Resolution No. 928 Postponement of Current School Year due to COVID-19 Threat

This resolution urges the Department of Education to postpone the School Year 2020-2021 while a cure and vaccine for COVID-19 are absent and in view of the economic burden on parents/guardians and the unpreparedness of the educational system nationwide for online learning. During postponement, this bill ensures equipping teachers with proper learning materials for online classes; subsidizing public and private teaching and non-teaching personnel; and promotes elective and non-credit courses for the continuous mental exercise and advanced learning of students.

House Resolution No. 303 Honoring the Late Businessman and Philanthropist Dominic Lim Sytin

This resolution commends the exemplary effort in the investigation of the case by the Philippine National Police in the pursuit of justice for the bereaved family.

House Joint Resolution No. 13 Directing the Congressional Oversight Committee on Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (COCCAAP) to Continue its Mandate as Provided for by R.A. 9497

This joint resolution promotes the extension for another 5 years of the existence of the COCCAAP to take into account services previously rendered and ensure pressing aviation concerns are fully addressed.

Projects and programs

Tulong sa Senior Citizens Work Program

Together with the Department of Labor and Employment, Rep. Ronnie Ong launched the Tulong sa Senior Citizens Work Program, which allowed willing senior citizens to work at universities, hospitals, and government agencies as support staff, doing administrative work for 3–6 hours per day and paying senior citizens minimum wage monthly through the Department of Labor and Employment.

E-learning Hubs

With occurring lapses and concerns of the educational sector with respect to internet connectivity, resources for modules, and inaccessibility of devices brought about by the pandemic in the Philippines, Rep. Ronnie Ong has established E-learning hubs, aka E-skwela hubs, around the nation for the “new normal of learning.”

These e-learning hubs are located in Baguio City, the City of Manila, Pasig City, San Francisco of Cebu, Poro of Cebu, Tudela of Cebu, Camotes Islands, Pilar of Cebu, Danao City of Cebu, Tuburan City of Cebu, and in Batangas. By the end of 2020, a total of twenty-five (25) is expected to be established nationwide. These E-skwela hubs are open to all students and teachers and are in partnership with the #FrontrowCares corporate social responsibility arm of multi-level marketing firm Frontrow Philippines Inc., and the respective local government units of the locations of the hubs.

Libreng Bisikleta

Ong initially proposed bike-to-work incentives to Filipinos who bike to work every day. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he launched the #LibrengBisikleta project, started with the purpose of providing alternative transportation to workers in Metro Manila who had difficulties because of the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in the metro. The project has distributed bicycles to workers from Katipunan Avenue of Quezon City, from Pasig City, from Sampaloc, Manila, and to more. One of the beneficiaries of the #LibrengBisikleta is “Mang Dodong,” a fish vendor dubbed by Filipino netizens as “one of the faces of injustices during lockdown.” Mang Dodong, a Caloocan resident, was arrested for violating quarantine protocols when he tried to buy his supply of fish at the Malabon fishport for his daily living. Enhanced community quarantine protocols at that time prohibited crossing between boundaries without proper documentation and certification. As one of the beneficiaries of this program, Rep. Ronnie Ong, together with his friend Coco Martin, helped Mang Dodong get back on his feet by providing him a bicycle with a sidecar for his fish business, as well as his own fish stand in Caloocan. In his statement dated May 24, 2020, Rep. Ronnie Ong called on his fellow civil servants to “be fair but be compassionate during this pandemic, and to not forget to serve and protect the Filipino people, especially people like Mang Dodong who go to great lengths every day to provide food on the table.”

Libreng Gulay

Benguet and Mt. Province farmers experienced a surplus in their production of vegetables during the period starting last March 16, 2020, while prices of vegetables jacked up in Metro Manila and nearby cities. As a way of helping both, Rep. Ronnie Ong launched the #LibrengGulay initiative, buying tons of vegetable produce from Benguet and Mt. Province farmers weekly and distributing the vegetables to various local government units and their community kitchens in Metro Manila. Some of the beneficiaries are the City of Manila, City of Pasig, Marikina, Batangas, and Rizal.

Libreng Sakay

No public transportation was allowed to operate during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) protocols in Metro Manila, and so healthworkers and frontliners who were needed to report to work every day were left with no choice but to rely on private transportation or company shuttles. To augment this need, Rep. Ronnie Ong launched the #LibrengSakay program for healthworkers and frontliners of Philippine General Hospital, East Ave. Medical Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and National Kidney Transplant Institute through hired UV Express Shuttle vans. This program helped not only the healthworkers and frontliners of the major hospitals but also UV Express Shuttle drivers who were not allowed to resume operation of their services during the quarantine period.

Libreng Tablets

As a way to help various public and private school teachers as well as students with no access to their own e-learning gadgets, Rep. Ronnie Ong also launched the #LibrengTablets program, which distributed electronic tablets to chosen beneficiaries. Under the new normal of education, online classes were the norm, and so, gadgets like laptops and tablets were in demand. The children at Bantay Bata Children's Village in Norzagaray, Bulacan were also among the beneficiaries to help them transition to online learning.

No Paw Left Behind

Rep. Ronnie Ong with Pawssion Project PH Founder, Malou Perez, with aspin rescues, Coco and Tiger

Since July 2019, Rep. Ronnie Ong has been in partnership with the animal welfare organization, Pawssion Project Philippines, in lobbying for animal welfare laws, stray rescue and adoption drives, and spay and neuter programs. At the International Homeless Animals Celebration 2019, Rep. Ronnie Ong adopted an aspin named Coco, one of Pawssion Project’s rescue animals. During the Taal Volcano eruption in January 2019, Rep. Ronnie Ong and his team joined Pawssion Project in rescuing dogs and cats who were left behind during the evacuation. Many dogs and cats were reported to have been abandoned by their owners due to their haste in evacuating to safer places. Two months later, during the outbreak of COVID-19, together with Pawssion Project, they also conducted stray feeding and rescue to make sure strays continued to be fed and strays in need of rescue or fostering were given homes in the meantime.

References

This article "Ronnie Ong" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Ronnie Ong. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

---