Senator Bong Go continues to advocate for the welfare and interests of Filipino farmers and agricultural workers as he co-sponsored Senate Bill No. 1850 or the proposed New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which was approved by the Senate last 9 March.

The proposed bill seeks to condone almost PhP58 billion worth of loans that Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) incurred in owning lands under the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program or from other agrarian reform programs.

The proposed measure is in substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 55, 178, 922, 1112, 1179, 1405, 1476, 1660, 1661, 1662, and 1804 – the last one of which was filed by Senator Ronald dela Rosa and co-authored by Go.

“I co-sponsored din po Senate Bill 1850 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act last 9 February. Tugon din po ito sa panawagan ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos in his first SONA to help our agrarian (reform) beneficiaries so that we can also help achieve food security,” cited Go in an ambush interview after he personally inspected the Super Health Center in San Jose, Tarlac on Thursday, 9 March.

Go also stressed that apart from the proposed condonation, more must be done to support the country’s agricultural workers.

Go is also one the authors of the measure that became Republic Act No. 11901, expanding the agriculture, fisheries, and rural development financing system.

Through reforms to the existing structure of the financial system, the senator said that rural communities will have greater access to credit which will help improve their welfare, competitiveness, income, and productivity, particularly for farmers, fisherfolk, agri-based workers and organizations, and other target rural community beneficiaries.

He has also been advocating for other programs to support farmers and fisherfolks in the country, such as the enhancement of the irrigation of farmlands and expansion of the National Rice Program.