Proving that his campaign message of rural development and empowering farmers and fisherfolk is more than just a promise, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan underscored his continuing efforts to ensure the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act, a 2019 landmark law that he authored to allow national government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to buy produce directly from farmers and fisherfolk without public bidding.
Speaking during the National Rice Awareness Month – Rice Festival at the Garcia-Hernandez Sports Complex in Bohol province on Saturday, Nov. 22, the senator emphasized how the Sagip Saka Act is a long-term, structural solution that empowers agricultural communities not through financial assistance and aid, but through sustainable access to markets, modern technologies, and institutional partnership.
“At noong 2022, noong ako ay lumaban bilang bise presidente, noong 2025 noong ako’y tumakbo bilang senador, lagi ko dala dala yung adbokasiya ng agrikultura at mangingisda,” he said. “Hanggang ngayon, hindi na po ako kumakandidato, dala ko pa rin ang pinakahuling mga dokumento para maipatupad ng maayos ang Sagip Saka Act.”
Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, is referring to Executive Order Nos. 100 and 101, both signed by President Marcos.
EO 100 mandates a minimum floor price for palay when the government purchases it from farmers, while EO 101 directs government agencies to fully implement the Sagip Saka Act.
The senator shared that under EO 100, the transitory provision states that while the prices for palay set by the steering committee are still being determined, the amounts will follow the National Food Authority’s (NFA) regional floor price computation, which is currently P17 to P23 per kilo for wet palay and P23 to P30 per kilo for dry palay.
During an open forum after his speech, he also stressed the importance of increasing the tariff rate on imported rice and amending the Rice Tariffication Law, pointing out how these two policies led to the influx of imported rice in the domestic market.
“Hindi naman po tayo nangako (lang) sa kampanya. Talagang pinursigi natin dahil naniniwala tayo walang kulay ang gutom, walang kulay ang food security at ang panungahing dahilan para mapalakas natin ang food security, ang pangunahing prayoridad—palakasin natin ang ating mga magsasaka at ang ating mga mangingisda,” Pangilinan stressed.
The senator recalled that he immediately reached out to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) upon taking office in July to demand the issuance of guidelines for all government instrumentalities on how they can use the Sagip Saka Act to improve the lives of farmers and fisherfolk and to empower the agriculture sector.