Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has issued a clarion call to government agencies and the agricultural sector–farmers, fisherfolk, agri-entrepreneurs, and stakeholders–to unite and mobilize in pushing for sweeping reforms critical to national food security, rural development, and economic resilience.
The senator, who heads the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, emphasized the urgent need for systematic changes in the sector as it faces persistent challenges–climate change, food inflation, outdated infrastructure, lack of access to support, and influx of imported goods.
“We can no longer afford to be passive observers. The time has come for the agricultural sector to rise, to organize, and to demand the support and reforms that are long overdue. And we must do it with resolve, unity, and vision,” Pangilinan said.
A long-time advocate for rural development and a former presidential assistant on food security and agricultural modernization, the senator held a meeting with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella III at Malacañan Palace on Thursday, September 25.
There, he presented a five-point agenda to address the current challenges in the agricultural sector:
- The creation of the Congressional Commission on Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Security (AGRICOM) Act ” to recommend innovative, targeted, and evidence-based policy reforms to ensure food security, improve productivity and competitiveness, and promote sustainability.”
- The review of and possible amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) to better monitor the rice supply, curb exploitative trading practices, and provide direct support–cash and equipment–to farmers.
- The passage of Pangilinan’s proposed measures–the Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Act of 2025 and the Agricultural Cooperatives Act of 2025-both of which intend to strengthen the agricultural sector by providing extension services down to the municipal level and empowering farmers through cooperatives.
- The full implementation of Republic Act No.11321, or the Sagip Saka Act, to allow government agencies and local government units to purchase food directly from accredited farmers and fisherfolk without public bidding. In line with this is the passage of the Free Breakfast Program and Sustainable Agriculture Act–in which 50% of food requirements must come from local farmers and fisherfolk–to provide free breakfast to kinder to senior high school students in public schools to combat malnutrition and improve academic performance.
- The President’s support for key initiatives and legislation–certifying as urgent the Agricultural Land Conversion Ban Act, constituting the Congressional Oversight Committee on Anti-Agricultural Economic to oversee the implementation of the Anti-Agricultural Sabotage Act, the filing of economic sabotage cases against abusive traders, and tapping over 25,000 agriculture degree holders to occupy vacancies in the DA for its extension services and agricultural cooperatives.
During the meeting, President Marcos agreed to the issuance of two EOs to establish a floor price for the buying of palay by government agencies and LGUs and for the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act. In addition Malacanang endorsed the review of the charter of the National Food Authority (NFA) and to push for amendments to the RTL as well as the creation of the AGRICOM 2.0, and underscored the need to strengthen the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) and the DA’s extension services to help farmers consolidate into cooperatives to achieve economies of scale.
Pangilinan thanked President Marcos, Executive Secretary Bersamin, and Secretaries Tiu and Estrella for their commitment to boost the country’s agricultural sector by addressing its long-standing challenges.
