Senator Christopher "Bong" Go on Sunday emphasized the need for increased government support for the country's small-scale farmers and fisherfolks in line with his efforts to alleviate the challenges faced by the agricultural sector.

 In an ambush interview after attending the groundbreaking of a Super Health Center in Bansud, Oriental Mindoro, Go highlighted the significant legislative progress made with the enactment of Republic Act 11953 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act.

"Last 7 July, President (Ferdinand) Bongbong Marcos signed Republic Act 11953 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act," stated Go who is a member of the Committee on Agriculture and a co-sponsor and co-author of the measure.

The law condones all loans incurred by agrarian reform beneficiaries, including interests, penalties, and surcharges. Before its enactment, up to 610,054 ARBs owe the Land Bank of the Philippines a total of P57.56 billion in loans. This covers 1,173,101.575 hectares of agrarian reform lands.

Go emphasized the positive impact of this debt relief, stating that the government should further support these farmers, ensuring that they profit from their hard work.

He then vowed to continue advocating for legislation and initiatives that supports small-scale farmers.

Go said that a concerted effort must be made by the government in coordination with other stakeholders so that small-scale farmers receive the necessary support and recognition for their contribution to the nation's food security and economy.

Aside from RA 11953, Go was one of the authors of Republic Act 11901, or the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Rural Development Financing Enhancement Act of 2022, which enhanced the financial structure supporting agriculture, fisheries, and rural development. This law is designed to offer improved access to credit for rural communities, particularly benefiting farmers, fisherfolk and agri-based workers. The goal is to elevate their well-being, competitiveness and productivity.

The senator also filed SBN 2117, which aims to provide full crop insurance coverage for agrarian reform beneficiaries, as well as SBN 2118, which aims to provide better insurance coverage and services to farmers and help mitigate the impact of natural disasters on the agricultural sector, if enacted into laws.

Earlier, Go emphasized the importance of improving competitiveness and safeguarding local farmers and industries amid the recently ratified Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement.

The senator believes that with open competition as a result of RCEP, the prices of goods will hopefully decrease, and ordinary Filipinos, especially the poor and those in the agricultural sector, must benefit from it.