EO on palay floor price 'big win' for farmers

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Sunday, 26 October, commended the issuance of executive orders (EOs) on palay prices and the Sagip Saka Act by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, stressing it as "big win" for farmers.

Marcos issued EO 100 on 25 October, setting floor price for palay in a bid to protect Filipinos farmers from unfairly low farmgates prices and ensure a fair return on their production cost.

He likewise issued EO 101, directing full implementation of the Republic Act No. 11321 or the Sagip Saka Act, which allows government agencies to buy directly from farmers and fisherfolk without public bidding.

Pangilinan, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, said both EOs aim to boost the country’s agricultural sector and improve farmer incomes during the harvest season.

“These EOs demonstrate that when the government listens to farmers and takes decisive action, we can ensure that those who feed the nation are able to live with dignity,” Pangilinan added.

“When we advocated for the Sagip Saka Act, this is the kind of support we envisioned for our farmers and fisherfolk. It is high time they reap the rewards of their hard work.”

According to the EOs, all national government agencies and instrumentalities—including government-owned or -controlled corporations, state universities and colleges, and local government units—are enjoined to implement RA No. 11321.

The Senator, who had been instrumental in advocating for the rights and welfare of farmers and fisherfolk, expressed his gratitude for the support given by various government agencies and officials.

He also expressed his gratitude to Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, House Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairperson Mark Enverga, House Committee on Agrarian Reform Chairperson Leah Bulut-Begtang, Isabela Governor Rodolfo “Rodito” Albano III, National President of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines and Quirino Governor Dakila Carlo “Dax” Cua, and National President of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Mayor Inno Dy.

Pangilinan also stated that the issuance of the EOs was coordinated with the Government Procurement Policy Board to establish guidelines for the Sagip Saka Act, as well as with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the DA-Office of the Assistant Secretary for Sagip Saka, and the National Food Authority.

With the EOs now signed, the Senator called for a whole-of-nation approach in uplifting the lives of farmers and fisherfolk, achieving food security through a more stable food supply chain, and lowering the prices of goods for Filipinos.

“With the palay floor price in place, farmers are no longer at the mercy of middlemen. Together, these measures will help uplift the lives of millions of rural families,” the senator said.

“But let us make sure that this momentum continues.Let us not stop at these EOs — let us strengthen our entire agri value chain by fighting against rampant corruption and abuse in the sector and putting accountability, transparency, and good governance at the core of our service to the people,” Pangilinan stressed.