The Rice Up Kadiwa Bagsakan Center provides more income to our farmers and cheaper cost to rice buyers, Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, chairperson of the Senate agriculture and food committee, on Saturday, Sept. 4 said.
Because of this, Villar encouraged more Kadiwa Bagsakan Centers which was borne out of the partnership of Rice Up Farmers Incorporated and local governments.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Rice Up Kadiwa Bagsakan Centers in Floridablanca, Pampanga led by Mayor Darwin Manalansan, Villar commended their efforts for this rice program.
Villar also acknowledged the important role of farmers in agriculture to ensure that every Filipino have food to eat on their table, and to help in the country's food sufficiency and sustainability.
"Our farmers belong to the country's heroes so they serve as my inspiration in my job as a senator," she said.
"This initiative of the Rice Up Farmers Incorporated and local government unit (LGU) is commendable to afford more gains to more than 400 farmer-beneficiaries in Pampanga," she added.
Villar said she has been crafting measures in the Senate to continuously spur agricultural growth and improve lives of Filipino farmers.
The lady senator also said she has been launching programs to better equip Philippine farmers with modern technology to increase their harvest that would result to abundant rice supply and its cheaper cost.
"This is the right model wherein farmers have greater role to play in our agricultural value chain," she stressed.
Without the trader in-between, Villar said the bringing of their products to ‘bagsakan’ center would mean higher income for them and lower price of rice for the consuming public.
"In return, this would give additional earnings to farmers. They can also compare the price of their products with the other farmers to make them competitive," she pointed out.
The Bagsakan Center, Villar said, is indeed a big help to farmers and their consumers especially during the current pandemic.
"I wish to thank the Rice Up Farmers Inc. for your guidance to your farmer-members. The role you play is the key to accelerate an equal development for our farmers," she added.