Former senator and now senatorial candidate Kiko Pangilinan called on the national government to provide a P500-million to as much as P1-billion calamity or disaster fund to help address the oversupply of rice and bring down the prices of food in the market. 

In an interview on WOW Radio’s “Frontline” while he’s on the campaign trail in Sorsogon, Bicol Region on Saturday, March 29, the former senator explained that the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) declaration of food security emergency last month should be complemented by a calamity fund to purchase the oversupply of rice. 

“Ngayon nasa food crisis tayo, ito’y panawagan natin sa gobyerno eh nagdeklara ng food emergency, food crisis emergency, maglaan ng calamity fund, ng disaster fund na bilyon siguro o kalahating bilyon para mabili ng pamahalaang pambansa, pamahalaan panglokal ng bansa direkta sa mga magsasaka ang bigas para masalba itong mga oversupply na nangyayari ngayon,” he said. 

As the principal author of the Sagip Saka Act, which allows the national government and the local government units (LGUs) to procure agricultural items directly from farmers and fisherfolk without public bidding, Pangilinan described how it could help bring down the prices of food in the market. 

He said the price of rice dictates the prices of food in the market since it’s the biggest item in the country’s food basket. 

The former senator also lamented that importation is being allowed amid the already oversupply of produce in farms. 

“Ang nangyayari pa ngayon, habang anihan, eh sinabay ang import? Bakit? Eh madami nang supply dito sa atin, bakit isinasabay ang import?,” he asked. 

“Pag sumabay naman ang import, edi bababa na naman ang presyo ng palay. Pag bumaba ang presyo ng palay, bibilhin nang mura tapos iimbak,” the former food security czar added. 

To address the oversupply and wastage of agricultural products, as well as to bring down the high cost of rice and other food items, Pangilinan urged the government to go after smugglers and hoarders, balance importation, and support the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act. 

“Itong food emergency na ito, kinakailangan sabayan yan ng talagang pagsamsam, pagkumpiska ng mga smuggled, mga nagho-hoard, mga nagsasamantala, tapos suportahan ang tamang importasyon para hindi naaapektuhan ang ating mga magsasaka at ang kita nila, suportahan ang full implementation (of the Sagip Saka Act),” he said. 

During his tenure as food security secretary, the country experienced its lowest rice inflation rate at 0.8% and lowest inflation rate at 1.5% in two decades. 
The former senator shared that this was done after he weed out corruption in the agricultural sector by going after smugglers, hoarders, and blacklisted traders. 

Pangilinan, who is running for a fourth term in Senate this coming May 2025 midterm polls, has been an advocate of food security for the past 15 years. 

Stressing that he has the experience, track record, and reputation to back him up, the former senator vowed to amend and pass legislations and support measures that would empower farmers and fisherfolk and bring affordable and nutritious food to every Filipino table.