With sufficient budgetary support for the agriculture sector, former Senator and senatorial aspirant Kiko Pangilinan said Mindanao can fulfill its potential as the country’s food basket.
“Sabi nila, Mindanao is the land of promise. But for so long the promise continues to be broken. Hindi nabibigyan ng sapat na suporta, lalo na dapat sana food basket ng ating buong bansa ang Mindanao,” Pangilinan said in his speech during the campaign rally of Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra.
To turn that promise into reality, he emphasized the need to allocate an additional P100 billion to the Department of Agriculture each year for the next six years, bringing its total budget to P800 billion.
“Dadagdagan ng isandaang bilyon kada taon ang budget ng agrikultura at pangingisda.”
“Mapababa natin ang presyo ng bigas at iba pang pagkain. At ang paraan, taon-taon, sa anim na taon ng isang panunungkulan ng isang Pangulo, dadagdagan ng isandaang bilyon kada taon ang budget ng agrikultura at pangingisda. So that after the end of 6 years, magiging P800B, P700-800B dapat ang ating budget sa agrikultura,” Pangilinan stressed.
He emphasized that this funding must directly benefit farmers and fisherfolk by supporting mechanization, fertilizer and input subsidies, post-harvest facilities, cold storage, and farm-to-market roads.
Meanwhile, Pangilinan thanked Marawi City residents for their continued trust, noting that he won in the city during his past three senatorial campaigns.
“For those three terms, because pinagkatiwalaan niyo ako, binigay niyo sa akin ang inyong tiwala, tiniyak ko na hindi ako nagtaksil, hindi tayo ni minsan nasangkot sa anumang kaso o anomalya,” he said.
Pangilinan called on residents to choose candidates with solid track records and proven accomplishments and to reject those who have remained silent on critical issues hounding the country, such as corruption.
“Tingnan natin kung may involvement sa graft and corruption sa mga senador.”
“Tingnan natin kung may involvement sa graft and corruption sa mga senador. Tingnan natin sino ang may nagawa. Tingnan natin sino ang nanahimik kapag may kaso ng katiwalaan na hini-hearing,” he stressed.
Pangilinan was joined by his wife, Megastar Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan, who serenaded the crowd with her hit song “Kung Kailangan Mo Ako” to loud applause and cheers from the audience.
