Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan commended the issuance of Executive Orders (EO) Nos. 100 and 101 by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., describing these initiatives as a “big win” for farmers and the agricultural sector as a whole.
EO No. 100 establishes a floor price for government purchases of palay, while EO No. 101 fully implements Republic Act (RA) No. 11321, the Sagip Saka Act.
The Executive Orders, along with the ongoing rice import ban, aim to boost the country’s agricultural sector and improve farmer incomes during the harvest season.
“Napakalaking panalo nito para sa ating mga magsasaka at sa sektor ng agrikultura. Nagpapasalamat tayo sa Presidente at sa lahat ng ating naging katuwang sa pagsusulong ng dalawang executive orders na ito,” the senator said.
As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, he met with President Marcos and various government officials to push for the two directives amid the sharp drop in palay farmgate prices and the volatility of the prices of agricultural goods.
“These EOs demonstrate that when the government listens to farmers and takes decisive action, we can ensure that those who feed the nation are able to live with dignity,” Pangilinan added. “When we advocated for the Sagip Saka Act, this is the kind of support we envisioned for our farmers and fisherfolk. It is high time they reap the rewards of their hard work.”
EO No. 100, series of 2025, directs the Department of Agriculture (DA) to set a floor price for the government purchases of palay by taking into consideration the production costs, prevailing market prices, reasonable margins for farmers, welfare of farmers and consumers, and other relevant factors.
EO No. 101, series of 2025, directs the full implementation of RA No. 11321, also known as the Sagip Saka Act, which was principally authored and sponsored by Pangilinan. The law allows national government agencies and local government units to purchase food directly from farmers and fisherfolk without the need for public bidding.
According to the executive order, all national government agencies and instrumentalities—including government-owned or -controlled corporations, state universities and colleges, and local government units—are enjoined to implement RA No. 11321.
The Senator, who had been instrumental in advocating for the rights and welfare of farmers and fisherfolk, expressed his gratitude for the support given by various government agencies and officials.
He expressed his gratitude to President Marcos, as well as to DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, House Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairperson Mark Enverga, House Committee on Agrarian Reform Chairperson Leah Bulut-Begtang, Isabela Governor Rodolfo “Rodito” Albano III, National President of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines and Quirino Governor Dakila Carlo “Dax” Cua, and National President of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Mayor Inno Dy.
Pangilinan also stated that the issuance of the EOs was coordinated with the Government Procurement Policy Board to establish guidelines for the Sagip Saka Act, as well as with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the DA-Office of the Assistant Secretary for Sagip Saka, and the National Food Authority (NFA).
With the EOs now signed, the Senator called for a whole-of-nation approach in uplifting the lives of farmers and fisherfolk, achieving food security through a more stable food supply chain, and lowering the prices of goods for Filipinos.
“With the palay floor price in place, farmers are no longer at the mercy of middlemen. Together, these measures will help uplift the lives of millions of rural families,” the senator said.
“But let us make sure that this momentum continues.
Let us not stop at these EOs — let us strengthen our entire agri value chain by fighting against rampant corruption and abuse in the sector and putting accountability, transparency, and good governance at the core of our service to the people,” Pangilinan stressed.
Executive Order No. 100, s. 2025: https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/Uu5t1e
Executive Order No. 101, s. 2025: https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/kRTuZh