Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said the 60-day rice import ban announced by Malacañang may protect farmers during harvest but is not enough to end the country’s reliance on imports and ensure food security.
“Yung 60-day ban is good as a stop gap measure, but it is not enough. Why are we suspending the entry of imports? Dahil anihan na beginning October, November, December,” Pangilinan said, pointing out the expected massive drops in palay prices due to imports during harvest season.
“We cannot be dependent on imports because kung biglang tumaas yan, food security ang challenge. Kung mataas ang supply, mataas ang presyo ng bigas at pag mataas ang presyo ng bigas, ang kapalit nyan ay gutom sa milyon-milyon nating kababayan,” he told student leaders in Tuguegarao City.
As chair of the Senate agriculture panel, Pangilinan vowed to push for a P100-billion increase in the Department of Agriculture’s budget, raising it to P800 billion over six years.
He said that while Taiwan spends $600 billion a year on agriculture for 23 million people, the Philippines spends only $4 billion for 120 million. Thailand and Vietnam also invest much more in their farm sectors.
The senator said the additional funds should go to organizing farmers, improving credit access, post-harvest facilities, machinery, and subsidies for inputs like fertilizers and pesticides.
“Kaya talaga ang pinaka-weakest link sa agriculture supply is the farmer and therefore if the farmer is the weakest link then the farmer must have the biggest support to be able to strengthen the farmers and fisherfolk, and that’s what we’re going to work on,” he stressed. “In the next six years, yan ang ipaglalaban natin. Tiyaking hindi ninanakaw ang pondo. Hindi lang correct spending, tiyaking walang corrupt spending.”IMT
