Former senator and senatorial candidate Kiko Pangilinan brought his advocacy for food security to Lanao del Norte over the weekend, telling communities that real peace, especially in conflict-affected areas like Mindanao, can never be achieved while hunger persists.

Speaking to members of the Northwestern Mindanao Front — Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (NWMF-BIAF-MILF) on Saturday, 26 April, Pangilinan emphasized the need to fight hunger and promote inclusivity as essential steps toward progress in the region.

“This ‘from arms to farms’ vision is so important,” he said. “I believe the future of the Philippines, in terms of peace and prosperity, hinges on how seriously we invest in agriculture and food.”

Pangilinan stressed that peace and hunger cannot coexist.

“There is no peace if our people are hungry. There is no peace if our farmers and fisherfolk are struggling. There is no peace if food prices are sky-high. We need to fill our stomachs — food security is key if we want to move toward peace, progress, and real development.”

During his visit, Pangilinan met with Hon. Abdullah “Bravo” Macapaar, Al-Hajj, the NWMF-BIAF-MILF front commander and a member of the Bangsamoro parliament, to discuss programs focused on long-term food solutions in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

These include the Sagip Saka Act, a law Pangilinan authored in 2019 that allows government agencies to buy food directly from farmers and fisherfolk — bypassing red tape and complex bidding processes.

He also proposed his “Libreng Almusal” (Free Breakfast) program, which would provide daily breakfast to students in all public schools from daycare to senior high. A key feature of the plan: half of the food budget must be sourced from local farmers and fisherfolk, creating a win-win for both children and rural communities.

Pangilinan visited Lanao del Norte on Saturday to push for stronger support for Mindanao’s agricultural sector through the Sagip Saka Act.

His advocacy earned the backing of Commander Bravo — Hon. Abdullah Macapaar, Al-Hajj — front commander of the NWMF-BIAF-MILF and a member of the BARMM Parliament, following a meeting at Camp Bilal Ben Rabbah in Munai.

Pangilinan emphasized that full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act would uplift farmers’ livelihoods, strengthen food security, and tap into Mindanao’s rich agricultural potential. The law, which he authored, allows government to buy produce directly from farmers — cutting red tape and improving market access.