As the future remains uncertain due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Kiko Pangilinan urged overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to invest in agriculture and fisheries, and help feed the country’s hungry.
“Sa mahigit na isang dekada kong pagsasaka marami akong nakausap na mga OFW na ang gusto pagka-retire at bumalik sa bansa ay mag-full-time farming. Kung maging partners ng pamahalaan ang ating mga OFWs at ang private sector para mas paunlarin pa ang agrikultura, makatitiyak tayong mawawala ang gutom sa Pilipinas,” Pangilinan stressed.
The veteran legislator said that this investment would create more local jobs for Filipinos affected by the ongoing pandemic.
“Merong opportunity sa mga OFW, meron din na maiangat ang kalagayan ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda.”
“Nakita naman natin kung gaano kahalaga ang agrikultura nitong nakaraang pandemic. Kumbaga, merong opportunity sa mga OFW, meron din na maiangat ang kalagayan ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Sila ang nagsisigurado na mayroong pagkaing nakahain sa ating mga mesa,” the seasoned lawmaker stressed.
Through the years, the OFWs keep the economy afloat through their hard-earned remittances, which make up at least 10% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), based on government data.
But according to Redentor Paolo Alegre, the senior director of the Department of Economic Statistics of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), only a few OFWs are investing in different investment schemes as observed in the last quarter of 2021.
“OFWs should allot a portion of their income to investments as this will help them when their retirement day comes.”
The senator said OFWs should allot a portion of their income to investments as this will help them when their retirement day comes.
For him, agriculture is a good investment, and so this must be considered by the modern-day heroes.
“Umaasa ako na marami pang mga OFWs natin ang mag-invest sa agrikultura. Kailangan natin sila lalo ngayong pandemya at sunud-sunod ang sakuna ang hinarap ng ating mga magsasaka’t mangingisda,” Pangilinan said.
“Sa pamamagitan ng kanilang investment, maaari nating masanay ang ating mga magsasaka sa mga panibago at updated techniques ng pagtatanim nang sa ganoon ay mas maganda ang kanilang ma-produce na pagkain para sa ating pamilya, komunidad, at maging sa ating bansa,” he concluded.
