Partido Reporma standard-bearer Senator Panfillo ‘Ping’ M. Lacson believes that public funds should be spent on the domestic development of agricultural products to ensure food security for Filipinos and help Filipino farmers cope with rising oil prices.
According to Lacson, the national government should directly connect local farmers and fishermen to the programs of the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UP-BIOTECH) which are developing cheaper fertilizer alternatives.
“’Yung (ibang) fertilizer oil-based. ‘Pag tumaas ‘yung presyo ng langis sa international market apektado ‘yung presyo ng fertilizer (Some fertilizers are oil-based. Once the prices of oil peak in the international market, it will directly affect the prices of fertilizers), the veteran lawmaker said during a Farmers Forum in Daet, Camarines Norte last week.
Lacson recalled that he and his running mate, Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ C. Sotto III allocated funds for the UP-BIOTECH based in Los Baños, Laguna for its research and development sector to come up with new science-based products that would be beneficial to our local agricultural workers.
‘’When Senate President (Tito Sotto) and I went there (at the UP-BIOTECH), they showed us their research and development (facility). They already have finished products there, not only seeds but organic fertilizers, too, that they are now marketing today. So, again, they are also willing to visit places where they can serve),’’ he said.
Moreover, Lacson assured the full and proper implementation of the Free Irrigation Act, which he authored under his administration.
Also, he and running mate Sotto reiterated their plan to buy 50 percent of the total agricultural output of farmers and fishermen nationwide, if they both emerge victorious in their respective electoral bids.
“Under my leadership, there will be an end to the cycle of abuse, poverty, and food insecurity among our food providers, our farmers and fisherfolk,” Lacson said.
Meanwhile, former Agriculture Secretary and senatorial aspirant Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Piñol expressed his disappointment on the nation’s lack of urgency, even interest, to talk about agriculture, which he said has always been the backbone of our economy.
‘’In our last debate, I complained later because during those four hours of debating, I was only given the opportunity to talk about agriculture twice—in my opening statement and my closing statement),’’ Piñol told reporters in Cavite over the weekend.
‘’It seems as if we are not paying serious attention about it anymore, in spite of the fact that right now, one of the main problems of our countrymen is the high prices of food and very scarce food supply, but there are areas where food prices are still affordable,’’ he added.