Senator Richard Gordon on Thursday welcomed the endorsement of a leading agriculture group for his re-election bid in the upcoming senatorial elections on May 9, 2022.
Gordon, chair of the Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises, said he is thankful that the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) has recognized his efforts in advocating for a sustainable development of agriculture in the country.
“Our agriculture sector needs a massive upgrade to be able to realistically sustain the growing needs of our growing country, and if enough, other countries as well,” Gordon said in a statement.
“Tayo ay nagpapasalamat sa FFF dahil kanilang kinikilala ang ating pagtangkilik sa pagyabong at pag-unlad ng ating mga magsasaka mula sa taon-taon na sakuna at kapahamakan (We are thankful for FFF for recognizing our advocacy to improve and to promote our farmers who are suffering yearly from all kinds of risks and harm),” he added.
FFF Board chair Leonardo Montemayor, the agriculture secretary during the Arroyo administration, said the board’s decision to endorse Gordon’s senatorial bid was based on his
outstanding record of public service and firm support for the agricultural sector.
Montemayor said the group has noted Gordon’s stance on critical concerns like the Philippine membership in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement.
They also lauded the senator for pledging in setting up honest-to-goodness safety nets and competitiveness-enhancement measures in agriculture and reversing the government's reliance on food importation.
Likewise, Gordon continued to push for the passage of the Regional Infrastructure Coordinating Hub (RICH) bill, an area that will serve as a one-stop-shop for farmers to fulfill their differnt needs.
The RICH bill was passed by both houses of Congress in the 17th congress but was vetoed by President Duterte.
Had it been enacted into law, the FFF said it would have provided hundreds of thousands of jobs for workers living near Metro Manila, and is easily accessible by land or air.
Founded in 1953, the FFF is known for its extensive presence in the grassroots and boasts a membership of over 200,000 farmers, fisherfolk, and other rural workers and has pushed for policies concerning the enabling of agriculture to achieve food security, job creation, and equitable growth.