It is high time the government prioritized helping farmers and fishermen become businessmen instead of allowing them to continue wallowing in poverty, Sen. Robinhood “Robin” C. Padilla said Thursday.

At the hearing of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, Padilla lamented that farmers and fishers who work to provide the nation with food remain at the poverty line.

“Hindi po ba sila pwedeng i-train na ang kanilang raw materials, lagi na lang kasing raw kukunin ng trader, maiiwan ang magsasaka o mangingisda, kikita ang trader. Di po ba tayo makagawa ng paraan na tulad sa ibang bansa, ang magsasaka at mangingisda nila ang may matatawag na magandang buhay (Can we not train them to market their products instead of having traders profit by buying their raw materials? Can we find a way to be like other countries where farmers and fishers have a good life)?” he asked at the hearing that tackled the “Poverty Reduction Through Social Entrepreneurship (PRESENT) Act.”

Padilla asked representatives of agencies at the hearing if there are programs to organize farmers and fishers into cooperatives, and to help them run their own businesses. “Kasi nakakaawa ang magsasaka natin, ang anak nila ayaw nilang gawing magsasaka (Our farmers are so poor that they do not want their children to follow in their footsteps),” he said.

When the Cooperative Development Authority’s representative said they are coordinating with agencies such as the Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Padilla asked them to prioritize helping farmers and fishers to have their own businesses.

“Kailangan maging businessman na rin ang ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda, kailangan mailagay nila sa sarili na sila ay businessman (Our farmers and fishermen must become businessmen and regard themselves as such),” he said.

Source: http://www.senate.gov.ph