Senator Kiko Pangilinan defended and sponsored the P184.09-billion proposed budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies, hurdling through questions raised by his colleagues on the agency’s various programs meant to uplift the lives of farmers and fisherfolk.
In his opening statement, the chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform underscored the importance of providing the DA and its attached agencies with the necessary resources to assist agricultural workers, who are heavily impacted by the instability of global market prices, climate change, and government policies.
“Bilang pangunahing institusyon na nangunguna sa pagpapaunlad ng agrikultura at pangisdaan, ang Department of Agriculture ay nagtataguyod ng kasapatan ng pagkain, kaunlarang pang kanayunan, at kapakanan ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda,” Pangilinan said.
“Saklaw nito ang buong value chain.”
“Saklaw nito ang buong value chain — mula produksiyon, postharvest, at pagproseso, hanggang sa market access, trade, at farmer and fisherfolk empowerment — na itinataguyod sa pamamagitan ng pananaliksik, regulasyon, at suporta sa enterprise,” the veteran legislator added.
The seasoned lawmaker pointed out that evidence-based interventions are critical to address the issues faced by the country’s agricultural sector and to ensure that such interventions are aligned with the goal of national food security.
During the interpellations and manifestations by Senators Erwin Tulfo, Jinggoy Estrada, Rodante Marcoleta, Bong Go, Risa Hontiveros, Win Gatchalian, and Migz Zubiri, Pangilinan discussed the various programs and projects being implemented by the DA, including the inspections of about 4,700 farm-to-market road projects across the country and investigating possible anomalies similar to the ghost flood control projects.
The senator likewise shared that there will be a special provision under the DA’s Office of the Secretary called the “FMR Watch,” which will allow the public to access information on the current farm-to-market road projects in different barangays.
“Transparency is also key so these projects are implemented properly.”
“Transparency is also key so these projects are implemented properly,” he said.
Pangilinan also emphasized the need to amend the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), and provided details on the post-harvest facilities, mechanized dryers, precision seeding, and cold storage facilities that the DA has been providing farmers and fisherfolk.
Some 1.2 million farmers have also benefited from Phase 1 of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)—which is the fund collected from the tariff on imported rice—through seed programs, mechanization programs, rice extension service programs, and expanded rice credit assistance programs.
Pangilinan, who had been advocating for rural development and food security for more than a decade, bats for a bigger budget for the DA to help the agency face the current challenges of high food prices, the climate crisis, and agricultural smuggling.
He also vowed for the better management of such funds by placing transparency mechanisms to ensure that farmers and fisherfolk will benefit from taxpayers’ money.
