Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan pointed out the corruption and exploitation in the Philippines’ agriculture system during Manila Bulletin’s podcast “The Sit Down” on September 9, calling for urgent reforms.
Pangilinan pushed laws allowing local governments and agencies to buy resources directly from farmers, addressing the issue of poverty within Filipino farmers.
He highlighted a successful pilot project in Muntinlupa, where the local government purchased vegetables from Nueva Ecija farmers at ₱25 per kilo compared to the usual market price of ₱4 per kilo.
“They bought five tons at ₱25, which is six times the income of farmers while still keeping the prices affordable for consumers,” he said.
He shared a story of three farmers, who spent their lives cultivating the land but remained financially poor to justify his objective.
“They've (farmers) been feeding us for 186 years, and yet they're still poor. And what kind of society allows that? They fed us for 186 years, and in return, we just say, that's how you are,” Pangilinan justified.
Senator Pangilinan’s wife, megastar Sharon Cuneta explained that the law Pangilinan pushed is all about creating sustainable demand and supply, ensuring that government food programs truly support our farmers.
