“Sayang na naman. Paulit-ulit na lang.”
This was how AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee lamented the recent news of Isabela farmers dumping thousands of kilos of unsold mangoes due to the very low price being offered by middlemen and wholesalers.
“Nakalulungkot at talagang nakapanghihinayang ang ganitong balita na pinipili na lang itapon ng ating mga magsasaka ang kanilang ani dahil wala silang mapagbentahan, at kung meron man, lugi pa sila sa gagastusin,” the solon said.
“Pera, pagod at oras ang ipinuhunan dito ng ating mga magsasaka, tapos ang ending, wala silang kikitain ni singko? Walang naiiwan sa kanila, kung meron man, utang,” he added.
Lee reiterated his call to strategize and strengthen the country’s agri value chain to avoid wastage or losses along the process. He also underscored the importance of providing market linkages to facilitate the selling of agri products and ensure the income of farmers.
According to the Bicolano lawmaker, this has become the grim reality of Filipino farmers and it is an injustice to sit idly while these problems persist.
“Paulit-ulit na ang ganitong scenario, may viral video, ma-me-media, tapos magsasabi ng solusyon ang gobyerno. Pero pagkatapos ng ilang buwan, meron na namang mangyayari na kaparehong insidente. Sino ang lalong nakakawawa dito? Hindi pwedeng pang-press release lang ang tulong sa ating mga magsasaka!”, Lee stressed.
“Sariwa pa sa alaala natin yung pinagtatadtad na repolyo sa Benguet para maging pataba at isang truck ng kamatis sa Nueva Vizcaya na itinapon na lang sa gilid ng kalsada dahil sa napakababang bentahan sa merkado. Nandyan din yung P100 kada 5 kilo ng luya sa Nueva Vizcaya, at yung oversupply ng bawang sa Batanes at marami pang produkto na kung hindi man nasasayang at pinamimigay ay ibinebenta na lang nang palugi,” he added.
The solon then reiterated his call to strategize and strengthen the country’s agri value chain to avoid wastage or losses along the process. He also underscored the importance of providing market linkages to facilitate the selling of agri products and ensure the income of farmers.
“When we reviewed the 2024 DA budget, P55.97 billion was allotted for pre-harvest activities, while the allocated budget for post-harvest activities is just P16.40 billion,” Lee pointed out.
“Matagal na natin itong ipinapanawagan. Kung mananatiling ganito ang strategy ng gobyerno, talagang uulit lang ang mga problema. We are not saying that we need to cut the budget for pre-harvest activities dahil mahalaga rin ito para mapataas ang produksyon. Kailangan ng sapat at tuloy-tuloy na suporta mula sa pagtatanim, anihan, hanggang sa paghahatid at pagbebenta ng produkto sa merkado,” he added.
Lee renewed his call for the urgent passage of his proposed House Bill No. 3958 or the “Post-Harvest Facilities Support Act”, which mandates the government to fund the construction of warehouses, cold storages, rice mills, transport facilities, dryers, and threshers, among others.
He also pushed for the passage of HB No. 3957 or the “Kadiwa Agri-Food Terminal Act” to scale up and institutionalize Kadiwa stores in every city and municipality which serve as a venue for farmers and fisherfolk to sell produce directly to consumers at cheaper prices, liberating them from the control of unscrupulous traders and middlemen.
“Imbes na pagkalugi ang madalas nangyayari kapag may oversupply, baguhin natin ang ending nito kung saan Winner Tayo Lahat. Siguruhin natin na may pagdadalhan at mabebentahan ang mga ani para matiyak ang kita ng mga magsasaka, mas ma-engganyo silang magpatuloy sa pagpapataas ng produksyon, na magpapababa naman sa presyo ng bilihin,” the lawmaker said.
“Sa paraang ito, bukod sa maiibsan ang pasanin ng ating mga kababayan, mababawasan din ang pangamba nila sa pagkakasakit, sa takot na lalong malugmok sa kahirapan dahil walang pambili ng gamot o pambayad sa ospital.”
“Hindi tayo pwedeng maging manhid sa ganitong trahedya sa kabuhayan ng ating mga magsasaka. Filipino farmers deserve better, and we must demand better services for them, our food security soldiers,” he added.
