Pangilinan cites Sagip Saka Act

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis Pangilinan said his first year back in the Senate has focused on boosting farmers’ incomes, tightening food security and stepping up the fight against agricultural smuggling, as he cited the implementation of the Sagip Saka Act as a key priority of his legislative agenda.

Pangilinan said his return to the Senate was driven by the need to ensure the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act, the 2019 law he principally authored, after finding that many local government units and agencies had yet to maximize its provisions.

The law allows national government agencies and local government units to directly procure agricultural and fishery products from accredited farmers’ and fisherfolk cooperatives without public bidding.

Pangilinan said implementation of the measure gained momentum after the issuance of Government Procurement Policy Board Circular 02-2025 and Executive Orders 100 and 101, which seek to strengthen government procurement from farmers’ groups and establish a floor price for palay.

He said he has personally met with local officials across the country to encourage them to adopt the law and source food requirements directly from farmers and fisherfolk.

Among those who benefited from the program is rice farmer Benigno Prestado of Bula, Camarines Sur, who said higher palay prices under the program enabled him to support his children’s education.

As chairman of the Senate committee on agriculture, food and agrarian reform, Pangilinan also pushed for what his office described as the Department of Agriculture’s biggest budget since 2010.

The 2026 national budget allocates P214.39 billion for the department, including P500 million for the pilot implementation of the Sagip Saka Act, which is expected to benefit nearly 10,000 farmers and fisherfolk through participating cooperatives.

The budget also earmarks P1 billion for the Bio-Security for Agriculture and Fishery Enforcement Project, aimed at strengthening border controls against agricultural smuggling and preventing the entry of animal and plant diseases.

Pangilinan likewise intensified Senate inquiries into agricultural smuggling, overimportation and alleged irregularities involving food imports, saying illegal trade threatens both farmers’ livelihoods and the country’s food security.

“Food security is a national security concern and therefore, agri smuggling is a threat to our national security,” he said.

The senator also called for reforms in the justice system, citing the low number of agricultural smuggling cases elevated for prosecution despite numerous reported violations.

Beyond agriculture, Pangilinan filed Senate bill following the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, seeking to allow the President to suspend or reduce fuel excise taxes during national or global economic emergencies to cushion consumers from spikes in oil prices.

He convened hearings on the impact of higher fuel prices on food production and urged the government to provide fuel and fertilizer subsidies, financial assistance and other interventions for farmers, fisherfolk and transport workers.