Robredo, Pangilinan vow support for Negros farmers

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate and Vice President Leni Robredo and her running mate Sen. Francis Pangilinan outlined their plans for the agriculture sector during their visit to Negros Oriental on Wednesday.

Speaking before farmers in Bayawan City, Robredo said she has chosen Pangilinan as her running mate since agriculture is a huge concern for the country.

A farmer and former food security secretary, Pangilinan has been pushing for better support for those in the agriculture sector.

The Vice President reiterated her plan to provide additional support to farmers to lower their cost of production, noting how the rice tariffication law opened the floodgates to imports and lowered rice prices in the country.

Earlier, she expressed support for the suspension and review of the law to ensure that local farmers are protected from its impact.

Robredo also vowed to update the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture to include women, and continue the Land Tenure Program for those covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

The Vice President also stressed the need to strengthen the protection of municipal waters to ensure that small fisherfolk will not lose their livelihood.

She underscored her commitment to end corruption, citing this as one of the reasons why bigger fishing vessels are able to intimidate local fishermen despite being in their municipal waters.

Meanwhile, Pangilinan expressed support to the proposal of the Negros Oriental provincial government to ban the entry of poultry and related products from Luzon to prevent the avian influenza or bird flu from spreading in the province.

In a radio interview in Dumaguete City, Pangilinan said measures must be put in place to prevent further spread of bird flu.

“It will be a big problem if it hits other areas,” he added in Filipino.

The Department of Agriculture had confirmed a bird flu outbreak in some duck and quail farms in several provinces in Luzon.

Last March 30, Agriculture Secretary William Dar assured the public that the outbreak is under control.