Free breakfast for students, food security among Kiko's top priorities

Former senator and senatorial candidate Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said he would use his legislative experience to advance measures aimed at achieving food security and lowering food prices if elected in the May 2025 midterm polls.

Pangilinan, a three-term senator, said his seniority would allow him to play a key role in the incoming 20th Congress.

“We will use that experience and knowledge of Senate legislative work to ensure that hunger is addressed beyond political affiliations. Politics must be set aside. We must work together. The Philippines is already chaotic enough — let’s not add to the disorder,” Pangilinan told reporters in Filipino during a campaign stop in Butuan province on Sunday, 27 April.

He said a renewed focus on lowering food costs, particularly rice prices, is critical amid the country’s current challenges.

“How do we reduce the chaos? Focus on the work — focus on lowering the price of rice. I believe that all incoming senators will agree to that. We must pursue ways to reduce the overwhelming costs of basic needs,” he added.

Pangilinan is proposing a Libreng Almusal (Free Breakfast) program for students from daycare to senior high school levels in public schools. The program, he said, would be complemented by the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act, a law he authored and passed in 2019 that allows government agencies to directly purchase produce from farmers and fisherfolk without public bidding.

Under the proposed breakfast program, Pangilinan said half of the food supply would be sourced directly from local farmers and fisherfolk, expanding their market access and helping stabilize rural incomes.

He pointed to his past record as food security secretary under the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, when he helped bring down rice inflation to 0.8% and overall inflation to 1.5%.

“It was achieved before, and it can be achieved again. But it will be more effective if I am elected,” he said.

With less than two weeks before Election Day, Pangilinan said he remains committed to focusing on his platform despite attacks and disinformation campaigns on social media.

“When you rise in the surveys, attacks come and money is spent to destroy you. I hope they realize they’re not contributing to solving the country’s problems — they are adding to them. They should stop. We should focus on advocacies instead of wasting resources on disinformation and dirty tricks,” he said.