Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan warned that he will push to defer the budgets of government agencies that fail to present concrete plans to fully implement the Sagip Saka Act—a landmark law he authored that allows national and local governments to buy directly from farmers and fisherfolk, without public bidding.
Signed into law in 2019, the Sagip Saka Act (Republic Act 11321) aims to uplift the lives of agricultural workers by guaranteeing market access through direct government procurement. But six years since its enactment, Pangilinan lamented that many agencies and local governments have yet to uphold its provisions.
“Nag-file na tayo ng resolusyon sa Senado. Gusto kong marinig sa mga ahensya, lalo na ang DILG, paano ninyo ipinatutupad ang batas na ito?” the senator said during a visit to Nueva Ecija on Wednesday, July 9.
Pangilinan said he will raise the issue during budget deliberations with key agencies—including the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“Pag sinabi nilang wala silang plano—wala rin silang budget. Sasabihin ko sa kanila: ipakita niyo sa akin ang plano niyo. Bago mag-Pasko ng 2025, dapat bumibili na kayo direkta sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Kung hindi, hindi ko aaprubahan ang budget ninyo—na bilyon-bilyon ang halaga,” he said.
In the 2025 campaign, Pangilinan championed food security, farmer empowerment, and stronger agricultural systems as key to ending hunger and poverty. Since returning to the Senate, he has been holding dialogues with agencies and LGUs nationwide to ensure that laws like Sagip Saka are implemented in full.
“Halimbawa, DOH—may 60 ospital kayo sa buong bansa. Saan kayo kumukuha ng pagkain para sa mga pasyente araw-araw? Dapat bahagi niyan ay kinukuha direkta sa mga magsasaka,” he said.
He also revealed that DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has committed to issuing a department order for the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act.
Pangilinan stressed that the law’s intent is clear: to make the government the biggest and most reliable buyer of local produce—ensuring income for producers and nutrition for communities.
“Walang kulay ang gutom. Walang kulay ang solusyon,” Pangilinan said. “Pero may sagot na tayo. Ipatupad lang natin.”