Amid the dry spell affecting several areas of the country, senatorial aspirant and former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Bong Go stressed the need to expand the government’s support for the country’s agriculture sector.
According to a recent advisory of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) at least 10 provinces—six in Luzon and four in Mindanao—are likely to experience drought in the coming days. Likewise, the state weather agency added that 41 provinces in the country are likely to experience dry spell.
“Panahon nang bigyang pansin ang mga karagdagang suporta ng gobyerno para sa mga magsasaka, mga mangingisda at ang kanilang mga pamilya. Tulungan po natin sila,” said Go.
The former presidential assistant stressed that one of his legislative priorities is to push measures to support the agriculture sector to enable the farmers and fishermen as well so they could earn more and uplift their lives.
“Isusulong ko po na magbigyan natin ng additional incentives ang mga farmers natin, for example itong easy access sa low-interest credit facilities, makinarya, fertilizer, at iba pang farm inputs para mas maging productive sila,” Go said.
In addition, he said the family members of the farmers and fishermen should also be provided with free business and skills trainings that they could use to further increase their income.
“At saka magtatayo po tayo ng mga Tienda Malasakit stores in key cities para mas madaling mabenta ng mga farmers ang kanilang ani at hindi na daraan pa sa middlemen. Sa panig naman ng mga consumers, makakabili po sila ng fresh subalit murang mga pagkain,” Go added.
To support this program, he is also pushing for the provision of storage facilities in food terminals to be established in key regions in the country, which shall include central refrigerated warehouse, chilling rooms, freezer storage, ice plant, blast freezers and refrigerated processing rooms, among others, to prevent spoilage of the harvest of farmers and the catch of the fishermen.
“I am pushing for the provision of storage facilities in food terminals in key regions in the country.”
“Itong sa mga mangingisda natin kaunti na lamang po ang isda natin na minsan napililitan na po ang mga mangingisda natin na dumayo sa ibang bansa, so susuportahan din po natin sila,” said Go, explaining that some of the programs for farmers are applicable too for the fishermen.
He is also proposing to provide scholarship grants and other incentives to the children of farmers and fishermen to encourage them to stay in the agriculture sector.
“Provide scholarship grants to the children of farmers and fishermen to encourage them to stay in the agriculture sector.”
“Pag-aaralan din po natin ang posibilidad na magkaroon ng national Farmers and Fishers Pension Fund para magkaroon ng pantulong sa mga matatandang magsasaka at mangingisda na hindi na kayang magtrabaho,” Go said.
According to him, the program may be initially funded by tariff and duties from agricultural imports.
In addition to better support for agriculture, Go said high on his legislative agenda is his advocacy to improve access to quality health care, particularly through the establishment of Malasakit Center.
A program of the Duterte administration, based on Go’s idea, the Malasakit Center makes it easier and faster for poor patients to avail of medical and financial assistance from the government by bringing together in one room all concerned government agencies such as the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Philhealth.
“Ito po ang gusto kong maisabatas pagdating ng panahon,” said Go, explaining that such a law would enable the establishment of Malasakit Center in more provinces and key urban areas of the country and allow as well the program to continue even after the term of the Duterte administration.
“Pera nyo po ito, ibinabalik lang sa inyo. Wala po kaming ibang hangarin ni Pangulong Duterte kundi kabutihan ng Pilipino dahil mahal namin kayo,” he said.
Other priority concerns under Go’s legislative agenda include education, housing, anti-illegal drugs and criminality, long-term sports development, localized peace talks, fire protection and prevention, anti-corruption, barangay welfare, creation of a Department of overseas Filipino workers and improved benefits for senior citizens.
