Former Senator Kiko Pangilinan has committed to addressing high food prices if he regains a Senate seat in the 2025 elections.
During an interview on ABS-CBN’s Harapan 2025, Pangilinan emphasized that he would advocate for essential reforms similar to those he implemented as food security secretary during the Aquino administration from June 2014 to September 2015 to lower food prices.
“Nilabanan natin itong mga nagsasamantala, tiniyak natin ang sapat na supply ng bigas ay nasa merkado, umaabot sa ating mga kababayan, at napababa ang presyo ng bigas,” Pangilinan said.
If he wins a Senate seat in 2025, Pangilinan said he’s willing to closely work with the Marcos administration to help bring down the prices of goods and alleviate poverty.
“It can be done. We’ve done it before. Nilabanan natin ang smuggler, nilabanan natin ang hoarder, sinampahan natin ng kaso, sinuspinde natin atin ang mga opisyal ng pamahalaan na nakikipagsabwatan,” he added.
In a span of one year, Pangilinan successfully reduced rice prices by up to ₱3 pesos per kilo through interventions that reduced rice inflation from 15 percent to 0.8 percent in a span of one year. This in turn led to lowest nationwide inflation rate in 20 years.
If he wins a Senate seat in 2025, Pangilinan said he’s willing to closely work with the Marcos administration to help bring down the prices of goods and alleviate poverty.
“Unang-una, walang kulay ang gutom, walang kulay ang kahirapan. Simple lang ang hinihingi ng ating mga kababayan, magkaroon ng abot-kamay na pagkain. Isasantabi natin lahat ng pulitika para magkaroon ng solusyon ang gutom,” he maintained.
Meanwhile, Pangilinan said he is banking on his clean track record and performance as a lawmaker and food security secretary as he seeks his fourth term as Senator.
“Ni minsan, hindi tayo nasangkot sa anumang kaso ng anomalya. Kung nais natin na talagang ang gobyerno ay magserbisyo nang tapat at totoo at mapunta iyong biyaya sa ating mga kababayan, dapat tapat at totoo at may track record at may resibo,” the former Senator said.
“Pangalawa, meron tayong kakayahan, napatunayan na natin, may resibo tayo. We were able to pass a lot of laws na nagbe-benepisyo sa ating mga kababayan na hindi kailangang maging kurakot,” he added.
