Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 13) — Vice presidential bet Senator Kiko Pangilinan has renewed his call for the full implementation of Sagip Saka Act as it will cushion the impact of oil price hikes in the agricultural sector.
The Sagip Saka Act authored by Pangilinan requires the government to buy directly from farmers and fishermen to do away with middlemen.
Pangilinan said the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act will help increase the income of farmers and fishermen amid the unabated fuel price hikes.
“Kung tutuparin ang Batas Sagip Saka ng gobyerno at direkta silang bibili sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda, direkta na rin sa bulsa nila ang bilyon-bilyong pisong nakalaan para sa mga government feeding programs sa ospital, sa provincial jail, at kung anu-ano pa,” he explained in a statement released on Sunday.
[Translation: If the government implements the Sagip Saka Act, the billions of pesos allocated for feeding programs in hospitals and provincial jails will go directly to the pockets of farmers and fishermen.]
This would encourage higher agricultural production, increase the supply in the market and effectively lower food prices, he added.
Pangilinan also said the heads of the Interior department, Education department, Agriculture department, and Social Welfare department have committed to implement the law in buying products for food-related programs.
“I texted them and they said yes,” he said.
“Bumili na direkta sa magsasaka at mangingisda (Buy directly from farmers and fishermen)…We need to act quickly. Appropriate government intervention is necessary,” he added.
The Department of Budget and Management on Friday said local agricultural producers may get as much as ₱3,000 fuel discount under the government’s ₱500-million fuel subsidy program for the industry.
A memorandum circular issued last week said the fuel discount will cover “all machineries used in corn production from land preparation to post-harvest activities as well as motorized boats for fishing operations.”
The document also stated that from the ₱500-million allocation, ₱492.5 million will be used for fuel discount, while the remaining budget has been earmarked for administrative and other operational expenses.
