Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan announced that his twin measures—the Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Act and the Agricultural Cooperatives Act—are now included in the priority bills identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
The veteran lawmaker, who has been pushing for the passage of these two bills since his return to the Senate last year, welcomed their inclusion in the Marcos administration’s priority list.
He underscored the urgent need to provide farmers and fisherfolk with stronger institutional support, better access to technology and knowledge, and more effective cooperative structures.
“We need to get these bills across the finish line. Hindi sapat na hanggang salita at papel lang ang suportang nakukuha ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Kailangan nila ng konkretong sistema at serbisyo na talagang umaabot sa kanilang mga sakahan at pangisdaan,” Pangilinan said.
The proposed Senate Bill No. 1991, or the Agricultural and Fisheries Extension Services Act, seeks to establish a stronger, more responsive, and better-coordinated national extension system that will provide farmers and fisherfolk with timely technical assistance, research-based technologies, climate-smart farming practices, and continuous capacity-building.
Senate Bill No. 1990, or the Agricultural Cooperatives Act, will reestablish the Bureau of Agriculture Cooperatives. It aims to strengthen farmers’ and fisherfolk’s capacity to organize themselves and compete effectively.
Once capacitated, agricultural cooperatives will have improved access to financing, markets, equipment, and value-adding opportunities.
“Sa ngayon, hindi lamang napakahirap ng pinagdadaanan ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda dahil sa taas ng production costs, pero napag-iiwanan din sila ng mga makabagong teknolohiya, bagong pamamaraan, at bagong kaalaman,” the senator lamented.
“Hindi dapat napag-iiwanan ang mga magsasaka at mangingisda ng isang bansang hitik sa yamang lupa at dagat. Hawak ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda ang pangarap para sa kanilang sektor, ngunit nasa kamay ng mga lingkod-bayan ang kapangyarihang magbigay ng sapat na suporta at pagkakataon upang ito ay matupad,” he added.
Pangilinan also emphasized that the two measures are closely linked to the country’s long-term food security agenda because a stronger agriculture and fisheries sector will bring down the prices of basic goods and commodities, increasing the buying power of ordinary Filipinos.
He expressed readiness to work with his colleagues in the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Executive to ensure the timely passage of the two measures.
“Ang dalawang batas na ito ay tungkol sa kinabukasan ng ating bayan at ng mga susunod na henerasyon. Tungkol ito sa kabuhayan ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda at ng milyon-milyong Pilipinong umaasa sa kanilang mga tanim at huli. Panahon na para mas lalo nating tutukan ang sektor ng agrikultura at pangingisda,” he stressed.