A LEGISLATOR FROM THE FIRST DISTRICT OF ILOSOS NOTE filed more than 500 bills her first term in Congress, making her one of most productive members of the 18th Congress. She was also a champion for road safety, the environment, and health.
Rep. Ria Cristina Farias, who was reelected in 2019, was the principal auteur of 208 bills, and coauthor of 351 measure, many of which were important laws.
Farias was a member of the majority in Congress and served as a deputy majority leader. He also served as a member of nine crucial committees. These included the rules, appropriations and energy committees, as well as the committees on rules, regulations, small and medium enterprise, overseas worker affairs, poverty alleviation and science and technology.
Farias was the principal author of Republic Act (RA), 11468, which was enacted January 2020. To ensure meaningful observance, the law established the third Sunday in November as the national day for remembrance of road accident victims, survivors, and their families.
Farias, the daughter of Rodolfo Farias (former representative) and Maria Teresa Carlson (former actress), filed other measures to promote road safety, including House Bill (HB), 9030, which proposes to establish the National Transportation Safety Board, and HB 2948, which proposes to create a Department of Public Safety for every province, city, and municipality.
As an environmentalist, she authored HB-9147 which regulates the importation, use, and disposal of single-use polymers. The House of Representatives approved the measure in July 2021.
She also filed HB 9833 to provide stronger measures for conservation and protection of wildlife. The House passed the bill on its third reading in August 2021.
She suggested several measures to promote good health and improve the welfare of frontline workers. RA 11463, which established the delivery of financial and medical assistance under the Malasakit Centers at public hospitals, was one of these measures.
She was also one of the principal authors RA 11509, the law establishing a national medical scholarship, and HB 8259 which aimed at giving income tax incentives to frontline workers. In February 2021, the House passed HB 8259.
To help strengthen the country’s recovery after the pandemic, she also pushed RA 11525 (the act expediting the purchase-and-administration of vaccines for the protection from Covid-19).
Farias also co-authored or coauthored RA 11519, the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act, as well as RA 11642 which established the policy and rules for domestic adoption.
She was also a major author of HB 8817, or the proposed law protecting freelance workers in gig economy sectors. This was approved in March 2021 by the House. Farias supported free Wi-Fi, as well as fast and reliable Internet. In January 2022 she was invited to the inauguration by Smart and PLDT of the free Wi Fi project in Piddig Bacara and Vintar.
The Free Internet Access in Public Places Act (RA 10929) allowed free Wi-Fi to local government units, educational establishments, health centers and tourist attractions. It recognized the critical role that internet connectivity plays in nation-building.
Farias was the first female representative from Ilocos Norte’s First District. She promised to file more bills to support public safety, environment health care, women empowerment tourism, education, peace, order, and other important national concerns.
Farias is the first district in Ilocos Norte. It included Laoag City, Pasuquin and Pasuquin, Pasuquin and Piddig.
