Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has called on concerned government agencies to strictly comply with the mandated payment period under the Sagip Saka Act, emphasizing that farmers and fisherfolk must be paid within 15 working days upon delivery of goods.
The senator authored and passed the Sagip Saka Act in 2019 to allow national government agencies and local government units to buy food directly from farmers and fisherfolk.
Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, emphasized that timely compensation is essential to sustaining livelihoods, maintaining production, and ensuring national food security.
“Hanggat di kayo nagbabayad nung mga utang ninyo, hindi ko ipapa-approve yung budget niyo,” he warned during a recent dialogue with farmers and fisherfolk groups in Mindanao.
This came after several groups of farmers and small-scale fishers raised concerns about delayed payments that amount to millions of pesos.
At least two groups told the senator that the Department of Education (DepEd) have unsettled payments amounting to millions in pesos for food purchased for their feeding programs since late last year.
“Hindi naman tama na ang ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda pa ang lalo nating pahihirapan dahil sa kakulangan at kahirapan ng sistema sa gobyerno. Hindi sila dapat magdusa at sumalo ng pagkatalo dahil hindi tayo makabayad sa oras,” he said.
He stressed that Sagip Saka Act was enacted to empower farmers and fisherfolk by providing them direct access to institutional buyers, including government agencies, but delayed payments will defeat the purpose of the law.
Pangilinan urged key agencies, including those involved in the purchase of agricultural and fisheries products, subsidy distribution, and credit programs, to streamline payment processes, strengthen inter-agency coordination, and enforce timely settlement of obligations.
He also called for a comprehensive review of existing systems to identify bottlenecks and implement immediate corrective measures.
A long-time advocate for rural development, food security, and the empowerment of farmers and fisherfolk, the senator reaffirmed his commitment to advancing policies that ensure fair compensation, strengthen institutional support, and protect the rights and welfare of the agricultural and fisheries sectors.
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