Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday emphasized the need to implement the Sagip Saka Act and create a congressional commission on agriculture (AGRICOM) to ensure food security and affordability in the country. Marcos made the statement after meeting with select Cabinet officials and lawmakers at Malaca±an Palace.
According to Philippines News Agency, the meeting was attended by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, as shown in photos shared by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on its official Facebook page. Also present were Senator Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan, Apayao Lone District Rep. Eleanor Bulut-Begtang, and Quezon 1st District Rep. Mark Enverga.
In a statement, the PCO said Marcos led the discussion on the implementation of the Sagip Saka Act to ensure direct purchase of produce and support for farmers. The expansion of extension services from the DA and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) was also discussed, the PCO added.
During the meeting, Marcos also ordered the review and amendment of the Agricultural Tariffication Law to better protect local produce and approved the creation of AGRICOM, a commission tasked with preparing broader reforms in the agricultural sector.
Further, Marcos instructed the DA to work with Bersamin and Pangilinan's offices to craft an executive order establishing a palay buying floor price. This initiative aims to protect farmers from unscrupulous traders during the harvest season. Pangilinan recommended engaging local government units (LGUs) in palay procurement through the Sagip Saka Act, addressing the issue of low farmgate prices during peak harvest times.
Marcos affirmed LGUs' strong support for the PHP20 per kilo rice program and efforts to reduce rice prices. However, he noted that despite declining retail rice prices, farmers suffer as traders purchase palay at a very low cost. To address this, he ordered the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act of 2019, also known as Republic Act 11321, and the Benteng Bigas program, which provides rice at PHP20 per kilo.
Additionally, Marcos ordered a review of the National Food Authority (NFA) charter to strengthen provisions on farmer support services. He emphasized that the NFA should return to its original mandate of stabilizing prices rather than relying on importation, which was never part of its core function. The implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) has been extended until 2031 under RA 12078.
