Senator Francis Pangilinan is advocating organic agriculture as a public health strategy to combat rising respiratory and lifestyle diseases in the Philippines.
He said naturally grown produce reduces exposure to harmful chemicals while providing essential nutrients and better flavor. Pangilinan cited his own organic farm in Cavite, linking healthy soil to community well-being.
The senator emphasized that chemical-free farming also benefits farmers by lowering input costs and increasing market value. He urged government support for organic farming through training, investments, and accessible programs.
Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos proposed a digital Agriculture Data Dashboard to provide real-time information on crop production, imports, and prices.
Marcos said accurate data would help farmers, consumers, and policymakers avoid overproduction, limit unnecessary imports, reduce waste, and stabilize food prices.
