More food terminals will sprout across the country if and when Partido Reporma presidential candidate Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and running mate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III gain the people’s mandate following the May 9, 2022 national elections.

The Lacson-Sotto tandem reiterated their plan to put up more food terminals across the country, so farmers, fishermen, and other food growers have the chance to sell their goods at prices better than what they’re getting now.

The veteran public servants renewed this promise to representatives of various sectors in their sortie across Batangas this week, noting it was about time the government gave them the support they deserved by putting up food terminals at least in every region.

“Alam niyo iisa ‘yung ating food terminal sa Taguig (You know, we only have one food terminal, in Taguig ). Ang problema ito’y naibenta pa, naging privatized pa, nag-iwan lang ng maliit na bahagi para sa food terminal gamit ng gobyerno. Hindi po ba dapat, at least bawat rehiyon, mayroon tayong tinatawag na agricultural consolidation center na kung saan ito’y kumpleto ng pasilidad? (The problem is it was even sold and became privatized, leaving just a small part (of land) for the food terminal for the government’s use. Shouldn’t it be that in every region, we have what’s called an agricultural consolidation center with complete facilities?)" he asked.

“Kasi may mga lugar sa Pilipinas, alam niyo sa Tawi-Tawi saganang-sagana sa isda. Halos ipamigay daw ‘yung isda doon. Ang problema, paano dadalhin ng magsasaka o mangingisda ‘yung huli nila sa Metro Manila o sa Luzon? Lalaki ‘yung presyo (There are some areas in the Philippines, like in Tawi-Tawi, where there’s plenty of fish. They almost have to give fish away there. The problem is, how will farmers or fishermen bring their catch to Metro Manila or Luzon ? Prices would only increase ),” the three-term senator explained.

Lacson and Sotto have long objected to the neglect of the agricultural sector and the misuse of funds meant for it, along with some government agencies allowing the importation of food products that the country already has an abundance of.

Apart from crafting and passing laws like the Free Irrigation Act that directly help farmers, Lacson and Sotto have also spearheaded investigations in the Senate on the rampant smuggling of agricultural goods that is killing the local sector.

The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief has also urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to file cases against officials involved in purchasing defective farm machinery meant to be distributed to farmers, at great loss to the government.

Lacson and Sotto have repeatedly stressed that corruption in government is the root of all the country’s problems and have vowed to eradicate it once they lead the executive branch as the next president and vice president of the nation.

With a combined 83 years in public service, the Senate stalwarts have assured Filipinos that once they implement the laws that they themselves helped craft, the public would finally get the government service it deserves, unlike in past years when corrupt officials would only help themselves to the country’s coffers.

“Kaya sinasabi namin lagi ‘aayusin ang gobyerno para maging maayos ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino’...Dapat ang intervention ng gobyerno tumulong para iangat ‘yung buhay ng ating mga kababayan (That’s why we always say, ‘Fix the government, fix the lives of every Filipino’... The government’s intervention should be to help uplift the lives of our countrymen),’’ Lacson said.

‘’You know, every time we are asked 'What do we see as the country’s biggest problem today?' Our answer is, ‘Government is the number one problem. The solution is government too, done in the right way,’’ he added.