The P4.12-billion budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for direct food purchase for its feeding programs will help Filipino farmers and fisherfolk and help combat hunger, said vice-presidential aspirant Senator Kiko Pangilinan.
“Ako ay lubos na natutuwa na ang DSWD ay naglaan ng budget para sa direktang pagbili ng mga produktong agrikultura na gagamitin nila sa kanilang mga feeding programs direkta sa ating mga lokal na magsasaka at mangingisda,” he said.
DSWD’s Supplemental Feeding Program seeks to give nutritious food to children in day-care centers between 2 and 4 years old.
Pangilinan amended Bayanihan 2 and included General Provision 22 in the 2021 General Appropriations Act (GAA) mandating government agencies, including DSWD, to implement direct purchase from farmers and fisherfolk for their food requirements.
“Masayang-masaya ako na pinagpapatuloy ng DSWD ang mandatong ito (I am truly happy that the DSWD followed this mandate),” he said following the 2022 Senate budget hearings.
Pangilinan, whose Sagip Saka Act seeks to lower food prices and make affordable food accessible to all Filipinos by uplifting the lives of food producers, said farmers and fisherfolk are front-liners whose need for livelihood must be addressed especially during this pandemic.
“Ang ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda ay mga front-liners din kung tutuusin. Kailangan din nila ng sapat ng kita para mapakain ang kanilang pamilya. At dahil panahon ng pandemya, marami sa kanila ang humina ang kita kaya naman malaking tulong ang direktang pagbiling ito dahil diretso sa bulsa nila ang kita. Kasabay pa nito napakain natin ang mga bata at iba pang mga benepisyaryo ng feeding programs ng DSWD,” he said.
DSWD’s Supplemental Feeding Program seeks to give nutritious food to children in day-care centers between 2 and 4 years old.
Pangilinan amended Bayanihan 2 and included General Provision 22 in the 2021 General Appropriations Act (GAA) mandating government agencies, including DSWD, to implement direct purchase from farmers and fisherfolk for their food requirements.
“Mapapakain na ang mga bata ng masustansyang pagkain, makakatulong pa sa mga nagpapakain sa atin. Puro panalo,” said the former food security adviser.
“Maraming salamat DSWD. Mula sa akin at aking opisina, sa ngalan ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda, sa patuloy niyong pagpapatupad ng Sagip Saka Act. Nawa’y ito na ang simula ng isang mahabang pagtutulungan ng DSWD at ang ating mga lokal na magsasaka at mangingisda. Sana ay mas marami pang ahensya ang magpatupad ng Sagip Saka Law,” Pangilinan said.
