One year after winning a Senate comeback, Senator Francis Pangilinan said more work needs to be done to reform the agriculture and fisheries sectors and improve the lives of farmers and fisherfolk.
Pangilinan marked the anniversary of his 2025 election victory during the first-ever Sagip Saka Day held at the M.I.C.E. Center in Quezon City, celebrating the seventh year of the Sagip Saka Act.
The senator said he remains committed to his promise of food security and rural development, recalling his campaign messages “Hello Pagkain, Goodbye Gutom” and “Walang Kulay ang Gutom.”
Pangilinan admitted that despite gains under the Sagip Saka law, many challenges remain for farmers and fisherfolk. “Marami pang kinakailangang gawin,” he said during his speech.
The Sagip Saka Act, which he authored in 2019, allows national and local governments to directly buy food from farmers and fisherfolk without public bidding.
Since returning to the Senate, Pangilinan said he has pushed for clearer implementation of the law, including support for mandatory floor prices for palay to protect farmers from low farmgate prices.
He is also pushing for the renationalization of agricultural extension services and the revival of the Bureau of Agriculture Cooperatives to strengthen support for farmers and fisherfolk nationwide.
“Mayroong potential food crisis na haharapin ang ating bansa. Pero pag handa tayo, nagtutulungan tayo, ang gobyerno aktibong nakikialam at nag-iintervene, kaya natin lagpasan.”IMT
