Senator Kiko Pangilinan is appealing to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to study the possibility of including nutritious and locally-sourced food in their relief assistance food programs during times of calamities.
In his interpellation of the budget deliberations for the 2026 allocation to the DSWD, Pangilinan echoed public sentiments that most food packs contain high-sodium and preservative-heavy food products, such as canned goods, sardines, and cup noodles.
The veteran legislator bats instead for the DSWD to incorporate nutritious and locally-sourced food in their food assistance programs during calamities, particularly pointing out how the 2019 Sagip Saka Act can bridge local government units (LGUs) with local food producers.
The Sagip Saka Act is a landmark law authored by the seasoned lawmaker and enacted in 2019, allowing national government agencies and local government units to buy food directly from farmers and fisherfolk without public bidding.
“Baka sakali, pwedeng pag-aralan ito ng Office of the Secretary at ng Departamento na paano i-incorporate ‘yung mas masustansya na mga items doon sa mga quick response for calamity relief.”
“Baka sakali, pwedeng pag-aralan ito ng Office of the Secretary at ng Departamento na paano i-incorporate ‘yung mas masustansya na mga items doon sa mga quick response for calamity relief,” the seasoned lawmaker and chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform said.
While acknowledging the logistical challenges of delivering and serving fresh and healthy food items during calamities, the senator expressed hope that the DSWD can look into how it can be done.
He cited as an example some instances wherein LGUs assisted local farmers for an early harvest ahead of a forecasted typhoon.
“Ginagawa ng ilang mga LGU ‘yun, tinutulungan nila ‘yung kanilang mga magsasaka. But at the same time, naghahanda naman at nag prepre-position ‘yung mga ibang LGU para sa relief assistance in anticipation of the typhoon and the evacuation centers,” Pangilinan shared.
“Pwedeng tugunan ‘yung early harvest ng ating mga farmers – again under the Sagip Saka Law, and the requirements sa lokal na magkakaroon ng requirements for food packs because of evacuation protocols.”
“So baka pwede ring pag-aralan ang isang programa na pagpasok ng DSWD, pwedeng tugunan ‘yung early harvest ng ating mga farmers – again under the Sagip Saka Law, and the requirements sa lokal na magkakaroon ng requirements for food packs because of evacuation protocols,” he added.
Pangilinan likewise pointed out how implementing the Sagip Saka Act can help benefit the local economy, taking note how the Camarines Sur Multi-Purpose Cooperative had a nine-fold increase in their income in 2020 after 13 LGUs bought rice from them during the pandemic.
“How has this changed lives? And it will also encourage farming communities to participate in this process, join cooperatives and the like,” he said.
“Which goes back to the local economy. When it goes back to the local economy, then gaganda ang benta ng mga sari-sari store. Gaganda ang benta ng mga palengke sa lokal. Gaganda ang benta ng transport, mga tricycle dahil may panggastos na ang ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda,” Pangilinan concluded.
