Former Senator and senatorial candidate Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan has reiterated his commitment to easing the burden of Filipinos affected by rising costs of food and other basic necessities.

Pangilinan lamented the everyday sacrifice experienced by Filipinos as they try to put food on the table, with the expected 30 percent increase in the retail price of fish during the Holy Week.

“Dati, Semana Santa ang panahon ng sakripisyo. Ngayon, kahit anong araw, sakripisyo na ang bumili ng pagkain sa taas ng presyo. Kaya ang hapag-kainan ng pamilyang Pilipino, pasan ang bigat ng presyo ng isda,” he said.

Insisting that food is not a privilege but a right, Pangilinan expressed his willingness to work with the government and private sector to bring down food prices.

“Ang pagkain, hindi dapat maging pribilehiyo, kundi isang karapatan. Prayoridad nating pababain ang presyo ng mga pagkain at handa tayong makipagtulungan kahit kanino. Dahil walang kulay ang gutom. At walang kulay ang solusyon,” he emphasized.

The former Senator earlier called for the reinstatement of the 15-kilometer municipal water zone that gives preferential access to small-scale fishermen as a means to protect their livelihood.

Pangilinan expressed full support for the petition urging the Supreme Court to reverse its earlier decision allowing commercial fishing vessels to operate within the 15-kilometer municipal water zone.

“Kawawa naman ang mga maliliit na mangingisda na walang kakayahang makipagsabayan sa mas malalaking commercial fishing vessel. Paano na ang kanilang kabuhayan kapag patuloy nating payagan ito? ” he asked.

He also urged the government to take action against cartels manipulating market prices, which negatively impact the income of fishermen who depend on their daily catch to support their livelihood and the needs of their families.

Pangilinan is the principal author of the Sagip Saka Act, which supports local farmers and fisherfolk by allowing the government to directly purchase agricultural products without public bidding.