The government must ensure a conducive environment wherein the private sector will be inspired to take a more active role in supporting rural development, food security, and farmers and fisherfolk empowerment, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said.  In a recent meeting with officials of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries

When Dexter Juala woke up on Monday, September 15, it wasn’t for his usual job as a Food Panda rider; it was to attend a highly charged investigation at the Senate into the multi-million peso agricultural smuggling operations that Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan had called to order.  According to the

In investigating agricultural smuggling in his capacity as the chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has uncovered a web of corruption that runs across the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and dubious consignees and brokers of millions of pesos worth of smuggled

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Monday, September 15, likened agricultural smuggling to the flood control corruption currently gripping the country after slamming government agencies for failing to prosecute smugglers of agricultural products despite billions pesos worth of seized smuggled goods.  In his opening statement during the Senate Committee on Agriculture,

ANG SMUGGLING AY PARANG “BUDOL” SA LARO NG BASKETBALL. ANG PANDARAYA AY GINAGAWA NG ISANG MANLALARO O KOPONAN — NITONG SINDIKATO — AT NG MGA REFEREE NA DAPAT NA NAGPAPATUPAD NG MGA ALITUNTUNIN PERO SA HALIP AY KASAMA SA PANDARAYA — MGA TIWALING OPISYAL NG GOBYERNO KASAMA ANG MGA SMUGGLER.

“Di raw nakakain ang demokrasya. Sabi ko naman, ang tunay na demokrasya, nagpapakain sa lahat. Madalas, may pa-sharon pa. Sa tunay na demokrasya, may upuan ang lahat sa hapag ng kapangyarihan dahil may pantay na karapatan ang lahat makasalo (equal rights and people participation). Dahil lahat kasalo, madalas maingay ang

While Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said he understands the public frustration over the flood control corruption scandal, he urged Filipinos not to lose hope and to continue demanding accountability from the government.  He expressed hopes that Filipinos will not sit idly and will not allow cover-ups in the current twin

Una, hindi inyo yan. Sa lahat ng batas—domestic o international man, amin ‘yan. May karapatan ang Pilipinas sa Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal). Ito ay mga 124 nautical miles (o 220 kilometro) mula sa pinakamalapit na baybayin ng Pilipinas, sa lalawigan ng Zambales. Samantala, halos apat na beses ang layo nito

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is looking at tapping the private sector to augment funding and access for his Libreng Almusal (free breakfast) initiative, a program aimed at addressing child hunger and improving learning outcomes in public schools across the country. In a joint Senate hearing on Thursday, September 11, the