As the country celebrates Rural Workers Month this June, AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee on Wednesday pledged to continue advocating for the rights and welfare of farmers and fisherfolk—sectors who play a central role in ensuring the food security of our country.
“Ipinagdiriwang natin tuwing buwan ng Hunyo ang Rural Workers Month upang kilalanin ang kontribusyon ng ating mga manggagawa sa mga kanayunan,” he said.
Citing the latest report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on poverty statistics among basic sectors, the lawmaker lamented that fisherfolk, farmers, and individuals residing in rural areas remained the poorest sectors in terms of poverty incidence in 2021, with fisherfolk at 30.6 percent poverty incidence, farmers at 30 percent, and rural residents at 25.7 percent.
“Patuloy nating bibigyan ng atensyon at aksyon ang kanilang mga pangangailangan sa pamamagitan ng pag-aabot ng mga programa ng pamahalaan, at pagsusulong ng mga inisyatibang makatutulong sa panahon ng kagipitan,” said the solon.
The AGRI lawmaker has filed several bills to increase the productivity and incomes of farmers and fisherfolk, give them adequate social security, and help break the cycle of poverty in rural communities.
Lee’s proposed measures include House Bill 1295, which seeks to grant free tertiary agricultural education and other related courses to all dependent children of qualified indigent farmers; HB 2418, which amends the Sagip Saka Act and provides additional tax incentives on gifts and donations to accredited farmers and fisherfolk enterprises under the farmers and fisherfolk enterprise development program; and HB 2420, which provides agricultural pension and social security benefits to farmers and fisherfolk.
Lee also filed House Resolution 89, urging the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to prioritize farmers and fisherfolk as eligible beneficiaries in the agency’s move to accommodate new recipients of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Citing the latest report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on poverty statistics among basic sectors, the lawmaker lamented that fisherfolk, farmers, and individuals residing in rural areas remained the poorest sectors in terms of poverty incidence in 2021, with fisherfolk at 30.6 percent poverty incidence, farmers at 30 percent, and rural residents at 25.7 percent.
According to the PSA, these sectors had the highest proportion of individuals belonging to families with income below the official poverty thresholds compared to the other basic sectors. These sectors also registered the highest poverty incidences in 2015 and 2018.
The AGRI lawmaker has filed several bills to increase the productivity and incomes of farmers and fisherfolk, give them adequate social security, and help break the cycle of poverty in rural communities.
According to the legislator, “millions of Filipino families benefit from the hard work of our farmers and fisherfolk because they literally feed the Philippines.”
Lee added that “nakakadismaya na kung sino pa ang nagpapakain sa atin, sila pa ang nagugutom. Nakalulungkot na kung sino pa ang nagtatrabaho para anihin ang yaman ng lupa at dagat natin, sila pa ang naghihirap.”
“Kaya naman patuloy tayong maghahain ng mga panukalang batas na naglalayong maiangat ang antas ng pamumuhay ng mga kababayan nating magsasaka at mangingisda para maging Winner Tayo Lahat.”
