Opposition Senator Francis ‘’Kiko’’ N. Pangilinan said on Thursday that a total of 442 local governments have bought over P2.5 billion worth of harvests directly from farmers and fisher folk during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown.

Pangilinan, former Presidential Assistant on Food Security and Agriculture Modernization during the Noynoy Aquino presidency, cited a Department of Agriculture (DA) data showing that agricultural products weighing about 10 metric tons were bought directly from 518 farmers and 245 farmers cooperatives and associations as of July 13, 2020.

He gave this report during a webinar on the 47th anniversary of the Albay Provincial Council of the Alpha Kappa Rho International Humanitarian Service Fraternity and Sorority of the Philippines.

In Bicol, P245 million worth of rice, pork, chicken, eggs, and vegetables were directly bought by the local government units (LGUs) from the farmers and agricultural workers in the region -- without middlemen, he pointed out. 

The LGUs distributed 68,372 metric tons of these agricultural products as relief goods to their constituents at the height of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in March.

“Imbes na canned goods, kinumbinsi natin at ni Agriculture Secretary Willie Dar ang mga LGU na unahin ang pagbili ng mga sariwang ani ng ating mga magsasaka,” said the senator-farmer. who successfully advocated for the passage of the Sagip Saka Law. (Instead of canned goods, we and DA Secretary William Dar convinced the LGUs to give priority to the purchase of fresh vegetables harvested by farmers,)

Pangilinan said Letty Patricio, a farmer in Tabaco City, even sold 2,000 kilos of sayote and around 1,000 kilos of squash to the LGU, as per information from the DA-Region 5.

“Masaya ang mga magsasaka sa inisyatibang ito dahil merong handang bumili ng kanilang mga ani na mabebenta nila sa magandang presyo,” he said, noting that buying directly from food producers and eliminating middlemen are the key features of his Sagip Saka Law. (The farmers were happy at this initiative because there is a group that buys their produce at a fair price.)

“Ang daming ganansya sa paggamit ng konsepto ng Sagip Saka. Bukod sa mga sinabi ni Aling Letty, ang masustansya at sariwang pagkain din ang nagpapalakas ng ating resistensya laban sa (coronavirus disease) COVID-19. Lahat panalo sa Sagip Saka,” he added. (Many profited from the Sagip Saka concept. Aside from the pronouncement of Aling Letty, the produce are fresh and pack a lot of nutrients to increase resistance against COVID-19).  

Pangilinan said his office also purchased around 55 tubs of Tamban fish from fishermen in Bulan, Sorsogon and distributed them to around 2,750 families in Legazpi City and nearby towns.

The Sagip Saka Act, or Republic Act 11321, aims to increase the income of farmers and fisher folk by connecting them directly with big consumers, including government agencies and corporations.