It is high time the government prioritized helping farmers and fishermen become businessmen instead of allowing them to continue wallowing in poverty, Senator Robin Padilla said.
At the hearing of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, Padilla lamented that farmers and fishers who work to provide the nation with food remain at the poverty line.
“Hindi po ba sila pwedeng i-train sa kanilang raw materials? Lagi na lang kasing raw kukunin ng trader, maiiwan ang magsasaka o mangingisda, kikita ang trader.”
“Hindi po ba sila pwedeng i-train sa kanilang raw materials? Lagi na lang kasing raw kukunin ng trader, maiiwan ang magsasaka o mangingisda, kikita ang trader. Di po ba tayo makagawa ng paraan na tulad sa ibang bansa, ang magsasaka at mangingisda nila ang may matatawag na magandang buhay?” the legislator asked at the hearing that tackled the “Poverty Reduction Through Social Entrepreneurship (PRESENT) Act”.
The lawmaker asked representatives of agencies at the hearing if there are programs to organize farmers and fishers into cooperatives, and to help them run their own businesses.
“Kasi nakakaawa ang magsasaka natin. Ang anak nila ayaw nilang gawing magsasaka.”
“Kasi nakakaawa ang magsasaka natin. Ang anak nila ayaw nilang gawing magsasaka,” the senator stressed.
When the Cooperative Development Authority’s representative said they are coordinating with agencies such as the Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Padilla asked them to prioritize helping farmers and fishers to have their own businesses.
“Kailangan maging businessman na rin ang ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Kailangan mailagay nila sa sarili na sila ay businessman,” he pointed out.
