Sen. Bong Go
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, outlined a two-fold technique to handle the continued considerations about rice costs and meals safety within the nation.
“As a member of the Committee on Agriculture, two issues ang dapat nating gawin. Unang-una, dapat po ay labanan natin, go in opposition to hoarders and smugglers. Dapat po ay walang makinabang na mga smugglers dito,” Go advised reporters in an interview on Saturday, October 7, after aiding poor residents in Makato, Aklan.
‘Glad farmers’
Go emphasised the necessity to give attention to offering help to farmers to extend agricultural productiveness and shield their welfare amid the challenges they face because of rising costs.
“Dapat po masaya po ang ating mga farmers. Dapat po ay kumita ang ating mga farmers,” he stated.
He urged the federal government to enhance its interventions for native producers, notably small farmers.
“Sila po ang dapat suportahan ng gobyerno,” he insisted.
Non-selective support
Go additionally requested the Division of Agriculture, in addition to different involved authorities entities such because the Division of Social Welfare and Growth (DSWD), to expedite the distribution of help to struggling farmers and certified indigents particularly in rural areas.
“Kung might ayuda po na dapat ibigay, ibigay po sa kanila. Might pera naman po ang gobyerno. Wag tayong maging selective,” he stated.
“Nandiyan ang programa. Nandiyan ang pondo na aprubado ng Kongreso, siguraduhin dapat ng gobyerno na mapakinabangan ang mga ito ng mga pinakanangangailangang mga kababayan natin tulad ng mga magsasakang naghihirap ngayon,” he pressured.
Go stated that this twin technique goals to strike a stability between market forces and authorities intervention, specializing in each legislation enforcement in opposition to hoarders and smugglers and uplifting atypical staff within the agricultural sector.
Citing the essential function of farmers in guaranteeing meals safety, Go has been constantly pushing for stronger agricultural assist methods and infrastructure.
Legislative assist
He was one of many co-authors of the measure that grew to become Republic Act No. 11901, increasing the agriculture, fisheries, and rural growth financing system. He has additionally been advocating for different applications to assist farmers and fisherfolk within the nation, such because the enhancement of the irrigation of farmlands and growth of the Nationwide Rice Program.
Go additionally co-sponsored and co-authored Senate Invoice No. 1850–the Senate model of RA 11953, often known as the New Agrarian Emancipation Act. The measure seeks to condone loans that agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) incurred in proudly owning lands underneath the federal government’s agrarian reform applications.
The senator additionally filed SBN 2117 which goals to supply full crop insurance coverage protection for agrarian reform beneficiaries, in addition to SBN 2118 which goals to supply higher insurance coverage protection and companies to farmers and assist mitigate the influence of pure disasters on the agricultural sector, if enacted into legislation.
Competitiveness increase
Earlier, Go additionally emphasised the significance of enhancing competitiveness and safeguarding native farmers and industries amid the just lately ratified Regional Complete Financial Partnership (RCEP) settlement.
Go believes that with open competitors on account of RCEP, the costs of products ought to lower, and atypical Filipinos, particularly the poor and people within the agricultural sector, should profit from it.
Meals manufacturing
Go likewise backed proposals to transform idle authorities lands into agricultural areas to spice up meals manufacturing within the nation.
“We should work collectively to guard our farmers, stabilize costs, and safeguard the welfare of our shoppers,” he added.
The lifting of the momentary value ceiling on rice began on October 4, following a advice from the Division of Agriculture (DA).
Agriculture Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban cited “constructive indicators,” resembling reducing costs available in the market and a projected enhance in rice provide from native harvests within the final quarter of the yr, as causes for lifting the cap.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. earlier imposed a most value restrict for normal milled rice at P41 per kilogram and well-milled rice at P45 per kilogram by means of Govt Order No. 39.
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Rice sellers affected by the value cap obtained P15,000 as compensation for his or her monetary setbacks. Then again, confiscated unlawful rice imports had been distributed to weak communities.
