STATEMENT OF SEN. FRANCIS PANGILINAN ON THE 71ST YEAR OF THE UNITED NATIONS

October 24, 2016

More than a pageant of costumes for our school children, United Nations Day, since 71 years ago, has been about the world working together as one, tackling borderless issues as varied as climate change and pollution, crime and injustice, and poverty and human rights.

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Through the years, the UN and the Philippines have forged partnerships to better humanity. This year, the focus is on achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. We believe that in order to achieve sustainable development, all sectors of society must be empowered.

In our part of the world, the poorest Filipinos remain in the agriculture sector. Hindi sapat ang kanilang kita upang masigurong nakakakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw ang kanilang pamilya. Hindi rin sapat ang kanilang kakayanan upang masigurong masustansiya ang mga pagkaing ito, at manatiling malusog ang kanilang mga anak. Sila ang pinakaapektado tuwing mayroongbagyo at iba pang kalamidad dahil nasisira ang kanilang mga pananim na syang nag-iisang pinagkukunan ng kita.

Sila ang nagtatanim, pero sila mismo hindi kumakain nang sapat. Hindi ito makatarungan.

This is the reason why we fight for our farmers and fisherfolk. We are committed to achieving, in particular, the second Sustainable Development Goal: to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.

Through our various efforts, previously in the executive and again now in the legislature, specifically through Sagip Saka, we hope to lift our farmers and fisherfolk out of poverty by prioritizing an increase in their incomes.

Naniniwala kami na kung may sapat na kita ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda, wala nang magugutom sa ating mga kanayunan.

Let us move toward the goal of #ZeroHunger! Tara na at #SagipSaka!