Vice presidential candidate Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said the immediate delivery of assistance to farmers and fisherfolk will be prioritized in a Robredo-Pangilinan administration.
Pangilinan made the remark during a townhall dialogue with nearly 300 farmers in Barangay Tanaytay, Pangasinan as part of his continuing efforts to champion the cause of farmers and fisherfolk in the country.
"Aasikasuhin natin itong mga direktang suporta sa mga magsasaka. Pati yung pautang, pag-oorganisa sa mga farmers para maging asosasyon, insurance benefit, pati yung assistance sa mga namatayan ng baboy gaya ng African swine fever (We will help the farmers directly. We will help in their loans, we will organize them to become associations, help them in their insurance benefits, as well as assistance to those whose livestocks have been affected by the African swine fever)," Pangilinan said.
During the open forum, one of the farmer-participants asked Pangilinan how they would help lower the cost of fertilizers and other farm implements.
Pangilinan pointed out that the government should immediately provide cash assistance or subsidies to farmers and fisherfolk, and its distribution should be done with transparency and honesty to ensure that legitimate farmers and fisherfolk benefit from it.
"Meron tayong impormasyon na ang mga nakakatanggap ng subsidiya ay di naman talaga lehitimong magsasaka (We got information that some of those who receivied subsidies are not legitimate farmers)," he said.
The senator likewise assured the farmers' group that by dint of his and Vice President Robredo's proven track record, farmers and fisherfolk can expect better opportunities under good governance.
During his time as food security secretary under the administration of late President Noynoy Aquino, Pangilinan was able to stop collusion between unscrupulous traders and some government functionaries from getting "kickbacks" in the importation of rice from Thailand and Vietnam.
These actions, he said, enabled the government to save P7 billion from rice importation in the span of only one and a half years.