Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is finalizing the committee report for his proposed Congressional Commission on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Security (AGRICOM) Act to speed up its passage in the Senate.
During a recent Senate hearing, Federation of Free Farmers National Manager Raul Montemayor suggested linking AGRICOM to the National Agriculture and Fisheries (NAF) Council, which coordinates government and private sector efforts to improve the agriculture sector.
Filed last August, Senate Bill No. 1199 seeks to fix the country’s fragmented agricultural system by creating an independent body that will review existing programs, eliminate overlaps, and recommend time-bound, measurable policies to boost productivity and competitiveness.
Pangilinan said AGRICOM will help improve coordination among agencies and craft unified strategies to strengthen food security.
The proposal comes amid an SWS survey showing that rising food prices remain the top concern among Filipinos, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao.IMT
