Senatorial candidate Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Friday assured farmers he will prioritize their welfare and livelihood through the full implementation of his Sagip Saka Act once elected to the Senate.
Pangilinan made the commitment as he met with farmers at the Mantalongon Public Market in Dalaguete, Cebu, which is considered the “Vegetable Basket of Cebu” for supplying 60 to 70 percent of vegetable needs in Central Visayas.
Authored and championed by Pangilinan in the Senate, the Sagip Saka Act allows the national and local governments to directly purchase from farmers and fishermen without public bidding.
In addition to meeting with farmers, the former senator visited the market to explore ways to replicate his initiative in Nueva Ecija, where he facilitated the direct purchase of five tons of tomatoes by the Muntinlupa City government from local farmers.
Pangilinan said other local government units can follow Muntinlupa City’s lead by directly sourcing from farmers at fair prices. These can be used for their feeding programs and calamity relief efforts.