Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Monday, July 27, expressed his readiness to work closely with Senate President Win Gatchalian in crafting legislation that will bring down rice prices and strengthen the country’s food security.
“Tama si SP Win: Tungkulin nating mga senador at public servant na tiyaking ang pambansang pag-unlad ay umaabot sa hapag-kainan, sa sahod, at sa pang-araw-araw na pamumuhay ng ating mga kababayan,” the senator said in a statement.
His remark was made after Gatchalian identified the Senate’s five-point agenda to spur economic growth and ease living costs.
Among the priority measures his Senate presidency will focus on are making rice affordable while also protecting farmers through amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law. He also underscored the need to ensure that the National Food Authority (NFA) has adequate reserves.
“Salamat SP Win sa suporta sa pag-amyenda ng Rice Tariffication Law,” Pangilinan, who has led committee hearings on the proposed amendments to the RTL, added.
A longtime advocate of food security, farmer income protection, and strengthening local food production, among others, the lawmaker’s experience in the agriculture and fisheries sectors will benefit the Senate’s current agenda.
In championing agricultural reforms and modernization, the senator has authored landmark measures aimed at strengthening the country’s food system, including the Sagip Saka Act, which enables government agencies and local government units to directly procure agricultural products from farmers’ and fisherfolk’s cooperatives and associations without public bidding.
As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, Pangilinan has consistently pushed for policies that increase farm productivity, improve post-harvest facilities, expand agricultural extension services, strengthen farmers’ and fisherfolk’s cooperatives, combat agricultural smuggling, and ensure greater government investment in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
Currently, he is pushing for the passage of twin measures—the Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Act and the Agricultural Cooperatives Act—to strengthen the capacity of farmers and fisherfolk, provide them greater access to technical and financial assistance, and enable them to tap bigger markets.
The senator emphasized that he is prepared to contribute his decades of legislative experience in agriculture and fisheries policymaking to help craft measures that produce lasting results for both consumers and food producers.
“Malinaw na paalala ang mga national economic figures na kanyang (Gatchalian) binanggit na kailangan nating kumilos nang mabilis, disiplinado, at nagkakaisa. Kaya, tuloy-tuloy lang tayo sa trabaho, tuloy-tuloy lang sa serbisyo,” he said.