Vice presidential aspirant and Senator Kiko Pangilinan has unveiled a plan on how to eradicate hunger in the country that has worsened due to the pandemic.
“The plan aims to address the challenges of hunger that we are facing because of the joblessness and lockdowns,” Pangilinan said during his speech before officials and members of the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc (PCAFI).
Under the “Kalayaan sa Gutom” plan, the first action is to double the budget of the Department of Agriculture (DAR) within six years.
Pangilinan said the “Kalayaan sa Gutom” plan is focused on securing our farmers and fisherfolk and their produce and uplifting the lives of their families from poverty.
“Dahil pag bumuti ang buhay nila, magkakaroon ng sapat na pagkain ang pamilyang Pilipino at mapapawi na rin ang gutom. If we are to secure our food, we must secure our farmers and our fisherfolk,” said Pangilinan.
“Pag sila ay nabigyan ng tamang suporta, gaganda ang ating ani. Pag gumanda ang ating ani, dadami ang suplay ng pagkain. Pag dumami ang suplay ng pagkain, bababa ang presyo ng mga bilihin at hindi na magugutom dahil abot-kaya na ang pagkain ng bawat mamamayan,” he added.
Under the “Kalayaan sa Gutom” plan, the first action is to double the budget of the Department of Agriculture (DAR) within six years.
‘This is initially one of our proposals. We will double the Department of Agriculture budget within a period of six years. From about 2 percent to about 3+ to 4% by the end of 2028,” he said
Pangilinan said the plan also includes wider agriculture support services and loans, immediate financial aid to farmers and fisherfolk during calamities.
The plan aims to turn lowering of hunger incidence as a key result area (KRA) or key performance indicator (KPI), establish the Office of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (OFAR) under the Office of the President, full and quick implementation of the Sagip Saka Act, revisit the Rice Tariffication Law the tariffs being collected will go directly to the farmers.
Pangilinan said the plan also includes wider agriculture support services and loans, immediate financial aid to farmers and fisherfolk during calamities, enactment of the National Land Use Act, affordable and safe farm inputs like fertilizer, and to eradicate corruption, unnecessary importation and smuggling within the agriculture sector.
