Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan called for renewed and sustained efforts to boost the growth of the Philippine agriculture sector, saying it is high time for the country’s officials to work together and improve the lives of farmers and fisherfolk to ensure food security and economic recovery.
In a meeting with officials from the Department of Agriculture (DA) in preparation for their proposed budget for 2026, the senator highlighted the critical role of the agricultural sector in ensuring food security, promoting rural development, and facilitating economic recovery.
He also emphasized the need for long-term investments, modernization, and stronger government support to empower Filipino farmers and fisherfolk, who remain among the most vulnerable sectors of society.
“Kung nasaan yung problema, kung nasaan yung sitwasyon, kung nasaan yung farmers, puntahan natin. Kaya tayo naririto. Pagtulungan natin,” he said before DA officials.
The senator pointed out that both the executive and legislative branches should coordinate more effectively, as he works double time to implement reforms for the agricultural sector before President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s term ends.
Recognizing how the President has prioritized agriculture in his last State of the Nation Address (SONA), Pangilinan said he also asked him to certify as urgent the passage of a law that would renationalize the extension services for farmers and the creation of an Agriculture Commission II that will zero in on the problems of agri sector and fisheries sector and what should be done.
Chief among the interventions that the senator wants to pursue in strengthening the country’s agricultural sector is tapping private sector investments, though he also acknowledged the apprehensions of the business community.
“Underinvestment in both public and private and investment from the private sector will be fundamental because the private sector has the deeper pockets,” he explained. “Eighty percent ng GDP is private sector, 20% lang ang gobyerno. Times four ang laki ng pondo ng private sector.”
“Pero kapag ang private sector hindi natin menganyo mag invest because of bureaucracy, because of delays, because of hindi conducive to investments, because of corruption, because of whatever reasons eh hindi natin makukuha yung ganon klaseng investments,” he added.
For Pangilinan, the solutions to address the country’s agricultural woes lies in three of his proposals: one, fully implement the Sagip Saka Act, which allows national government agencies and local government units to buy directly from farmers and fisherfolk without public bidding; two, renationalize the extension services so local farmers can access needed government interventions; and three, strengthen agricultural cooperatives to organize farmers, make them credit worthy, and help build their economies of scale.
“Wala tayo niyan. Walang-wala tayo niyan,” he said, referring to extension services. “Kung hindi tayo kikilos, milagro ang kailangan.”