Sen. Francis Pangilinan on Monday proposed expanding cash aid and emergency employment programs to help farmers and fisherfolk.

He proposed tapping allocations under the 2026 national budget, including the PHP63.85-billion Protective Services for Individuals and Families in Difficult Circumstances and the PHP21.28-billion Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), alongside other emergency cash aid programs.

Only 4.18 million out of 10.76 million food producers listed in the Department of Agriculture’s Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture are covered by a PHP10 billion assistance program, Pangilinan said.

“Frontliner food soldiers sa krisis ang ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Sandata nila ang agarang tulong-pangkabuhayan para tuloy-tuloy silang makapagbungkal ng lupa at makapaglayag, at tuloy-tuloy din nilang maipaglaban ang pagkain sa bawat hapag-kainang Pilipino (Our farmers and fisherfolk are ‘frontliner food soldiers’ in this crisis. Their weapon is immediate livelihood support so they can continue tilling the land and going out to sea, and keep fighting for food on every Filipino table),” he said.

Even before the Middle East conflict, Pangilinan said many food producers were already struggling and warned that gaps in support could affect the country’s food supply.

“As it is, marami pang wala sa registry. As it is, marami na sa kanila ang hirap, wala pa man ding sigalot sa Gitnang Silangan. Kapag tiniyak natin ang kanilang kabuhayan, tinitiyak din natin ang food supply ng buong bansa (As it is, many are still not in the registry. As it is, many of them are already struggling even before the Middle East conflict. If we secure their livelihoods, we also secure the country’s food supply),” he said.

“Because to secure our food, we must secure our food producers.” (PNA)