Just a couple of days before the Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month ended yesterday, the Senate on Tuesday passed on third and final reading the Sagip Saka Bill with a unanimous vote of 21-0.
Senate Bill No. 1281, also known as the Sagip Saka Bill, seeks to provide tax incentives to the private sector that buy agricultural produce directly from accredited farmers and fishers’ enterprises. The private sector may also provide or donate equipment, machineries, and other forms of assistance to farmers and fishers engaging in enterprise development.
The bill, principally authored and sponsored by Senator Kiko Pangilinan, also seeks to require LGUs to buy their food needs (rice, vegetables, poultry, etc.) for their feeding programs, and calamity and relief operations from farmers’ associations without any bidding.
“This multi-sectoral approach brings together the government, the private sector, local government units, farmer and fisher groups. Buying directly from farmers’ associations reduces wastage and increases their incomes,” Pangilinan said.
“This means bigger incomes for our farmers and fisherfolk which should have always been the benchmark of success for any agricultural program,” said the former chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food.
The Sagip Saka bill is one of Pangilinan’s pro-farmer and pro-fisher priority pieces of legislation for the 17th Congress.
“The agriculture and fisheries sector has long been given less importance and priority in our country. Our farmers and fisherfolk continue to be among the poorest of the poor. It is not right that the very people who work tirelessly to provide food on our tables are the ones who are hungry and poor,” stressed the veteran legislator.
“We thank our colleagues in the Senate for passing this important piece of legislation just in time before Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month ended this May. This is one huge leap toward achieving food security in our country and ensuring that the lives of our farmers and fisherfolk are made better,” said the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization under the Aquino administration.