Senator Kiko Pangilinan led the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform’s first public hearing on the high prices of food and other commodities, promising to come up with urgent solutions to address hunger and food insecurity in the country.
In his opening statement as chairman of the committee, Pangilinan lamented the continuous hunger being experienced by Filipinos as he pointed out the more than 40% to 50% increase in basic food items since 2018.
“Problema ito na urgent, at ang urgency kailangan kumilos dahil hindi makakapaghintay ang gutom,” Pangilinan said. “Ang ating mga ginugutom na mga kababayan, kung hindi masisira ang ulo, magkakasakit o kung hindi kaya matapos magkasakit, ay mamamatay.”
“Bubunutin natin sa ugat ang problema sa dulo ng ating pagdinig.”
“Kaya sisilipin natin ang lahat: Import policies, price monitoring, and subsidies not just for rice, vegetables, meat, fish, pati basic ingredients tulad ng bawang, sibuyas. At bubunutin natin sa ugat ang problema sa dulo ng ating pagdinig,” the veteran legislator added.
In particular, the seasoned lawmaker said he would be looking into the clear and concrete recommendations laid down under Senate Committee Report 649 in June 2022—strengthen inter-agency coordination between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), hire some 1,500 BOC personnel, tighten and make accountable government agencies responsible for the country’s agricultural sector, digitized processes, blacklist repeat offenders, train enforces, and engage the private sector.
“Sa ngalan ng buong Senado, nais po natin malaman: which of these have been implemented? Which have been ignored, and who benefits from the inaction?” the senator added.
Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), he said that from 2018 to 2025, food prices have gone up—pork (over 50% per kilo), tilapia (over 40% per kilo), bangus (over 40% per kilo), galunggong (over 40% per kilo), egg (over 50% per piece), imported garlic (over 40% per kilo), red onions (over 30% per kilo), white onions (over 60% per kilo), tomato (over 40) per kilo), well-milled rice (over 20% per kilo).
“Hahanapin natin ang pinaka-mabilis na paraan para mapababa ang presyo ng pagkain at iba pang bilihin.”
“Hindi lang natin pag-uusapan ang presyo ng pagkain. Hahanapin natin ang pinaka-mabilis na paraan para mapababa ang presyo ng pagkain at iba pang bilihin para maiwasan ang gutom ng ating mga kababayan,” Pangilinan stressed.
He said that two other hearings on the proposed measure to amend the Rice Tariffication Law and the issues of smuggling and importation of rice and other products will be conducted on Aug. 27 and Sept. 1, respectively.
