Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero renewed his push for the renationalization of agricultural services to uplift and revitalize the country’s agriculture sector, by bringing back the control and supervision of agricultural facilities to the national level, particularly the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies. 

Speaking at the 25th Anniversary of the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc. held recently, Escudero said he has been pushing to renationalize the agriculture sector which has been devolved to local government units (LGUs) together with the health sector.

Renationalization works by bringing assets or industries that were previously privatized back into government ownership. 

“There are inconsistencies in the implementation of programs and policies that affect the agriculture sector in each locality,” the Senate leader noted.

“If you have someone with a background as a farmer then you can expect policies in favor of the sector. Otherwise, there is no guarantee that their interests would be prioritized,” Escudero said.

Since 1998, when he first served as representative of the First District of Sorsogon, Escudero said he has been pushing a measure seeking to renationalize the country’s agriculture sector.

Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991, devolved agricultural and health services to the LGUs as part of moves to provide them with greater autonomy. 

Cognizant of the feedback from stakeholders of the agriculture sector during consultations conducted during the review of the implementation of the LGC, Escudero said it is imperative to heed their strong desire to renationalize agricultural services in order to counter problems such as the entry of the African Swine Fever or ASF.

“May problema sa iba’t ibang polisiya kaugnay ng iba’t ibang regulasyon at pagbabawal na konektado sa mga bagay tulad ng ASF, mga regulasyon galing sa mga LGU na walang kontrol ang DA (There are problems about different policies when it comes to the different regulations and prohibitions in connection with problems like the ASF; regulations that come from the LGUs and which the DA do not have any control),” he pointed out.

He also cited Republic Act 8435 or the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 which necessitates the DA’s full administrative control and supervision over all personnel in the field who are involved in agriculture and fishery.

Escudero also noted that agricultural extension workers or the people in the field could be better utilized to support the renewed push to revitalize the agriculture sector.

“In contemplating whether or not to revive renationalization, sana maging solusyon ng administrasyon na timbangin nila ‘yung renationalization ng agriculture sector muli para hawak ng kalihim ang lahat ng programang agrikultura (I hope the solution of the administration is that they consider the renationalization of the agriculture sector again so that the secretary holds all the agricultural programs),” the lawmaker said.