Senator Kiko Pangilinan, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella, House Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairperson and Quezon Representative Mark Enverga, NFA Administrator Larry Lacson, Zamboanga del Norte Governor Darel Dexter Uy, and FTI Board Member Joseph Rudolph Lo held a joint press conference recently, following their briefing on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework for the Sagip Saka implementation.
The Executive and Legislative branches have set in motion the implementation of the recently issued twin Executive Orders—EO No. 100, Establishing the Floor Price of Palay and Providing Trigger Mechanisms for Its Implementation, and EO No. 101, Directing the Full Implementation of Republic Act No. 11321 or the “Sagip Saka Act.”
Pangilinan, who championed the Sagip Saka Act, shared their plans for its implementation.
“Nag create ng isang Steering Committee yung EO na pinamumunuan ng ating magiging Chairman na Secretary ng Agriculture, the committee will be Co-Chaired by the DILG, and then you have the DTI, NFA, DAR, and DSWD. Sila ang mag-o-oversee ng full implementation na ito,” the veteran legislator said.
“Basta agri products, walang exemption, lahat ‘yan included: fish, dried fish, gulay, baboy, baka, lahat ‘yan pwe-pwedeng bilhin ng walang public bidding.”
“Basta agri products, walang exemption, lahat ‘yan included: fish, dried fish, gulay, baboy, baka, lahat ‘yan pwe-pwedeng bilhin ng walang public bidding,” the seasoned lawmaker explained.
The extension of the rice import ban, alongside the implementation of the twin EOs, is expected to ensure stable income for farmers and fisherfolk.
In addition, the EOs aim to encourage greater public support for local produce by promoting and purchasing products grown by Filipino farmers.
By supporting local production, the government reinforces the vision of a self-sufficient and resilient agricultural economy—reducing dependence on imports and advancing the Senator’s long-term goal of achieving national food security. This reflects the country’s commitment to building progress through the Sagip Saka Act and ensuring that development in the agriculture sector remains steady and inclusive.
The senator, who led the drafting of the twin EOs, rallied national government agencies and local government units to be active instruments in fully implementing the Sagip Saka Act.
“Ang panawagan natin sa lahat ng departamento na mayroong food programs, feeding programs, and calamity relief ay maglabas ng kanya-kanyang department order para sa full implementation ng batas na ito — para in sync lahat: DOH, DSWD, DILG, AFP, and PNP,” he said.
Addressing concerns raised about EO 100’s lack of a fixed floor price, Pangilinan explained that the transitory provision was deliberately included to allow immediate implementation while specific guidelines are still being finalized.
Section 9, or the Transitory Clause of EO 100, states that “upon effectivity of this Order, and pending the issuance of the guidelines to be issued by the Steering Committee, the floor price of palay shall be based on the current regional floor price computation of the NFA.”
“Ano ba yung minimum floor price kapag bibili ‘yung gobyerno sa ating magsasaka? Sabi ng EO: base sa NFA determination ng floor price. Ang floor price ‘pag bumili ang local governments at ang national government ng palay, depende sa lugar, price range ay kung fresh P17-P23 kada kilo at kung clean and dry, ang range ay P23-P30 kada kilo. Kasi may mga nagsasabing wala sa EO yung presyo, pero nasa section 9 na ang prevailing prices as determined by NFA,” Pangilinan said.
Turning policies into progress, these Executive Orders mark the start of the lasting support that farmers have long awaited. He seeks to shift the national conversation, reminding everyone that food is not a privilege—it is a right.
“Walang kulay ang gutom, walang kulay ang solusyon.”
Reaffirming his campaign call—“Walang kulay ang gutom, walang kulay ang solusyon”—Pangilinan also highlighted that this progress would not have been possible without the cooperation of all agriculture and agrarian reform leaders.
“Alam ko na this is a product of the cooperation between the Executive and Legislative department which would not have been possible without the support of Malacañang, DA, DAR, Senate, House, and Local Governments,” he said.
“Kaya talagang this is a team effort and team work works,” Pangilinan concluded.
