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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Among the poorest': Villafuerte eyes pension fund for farmers, fisherfolk

'Among the poorest': Villafuerte eyes pension fund for farmers, fisherfolk

Published Mar 22, 2024 05:23 am

At A Glance

  • Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte is calling for the swift passage of a measure that seeks to establish the Agricultural Pension Fund (APF) and provide benefits to farmers and fisherfolk when they retire.

Lray Villafuerte.jpgCamarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte (PPAB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte is calling for the swift passage of a measure that seeks to establish the Agricultural Pension Fund (APF) and provide benefits to farmers and fisherfolk when they retire.

“Our agricultural workers, especially farmers and fisherfolk, are among the poorest groups in our society and are not covered by any pension program of the government,” Villafuerte said in a statement.

Under House Bill (HB) No. 7693 or the “Agricultural Pension Fund Act”, the state-run firm Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) is mandated to craft and manage the APF.

The measure recognizes that universal access to comprehensive and adequate social protection systems is “an important tool to prevent and reduce poverty and inequality”.

The bill was authored by Villafuerte alongside Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan.

“Our farmers and fisherfolk are an integral part of the country's development, and deserve due recognition for their great contribution to society by providing them with pension benefits to assist them with their basic needs when they reach the age of retirement,” noted Villafuerte.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that there were almost 9.7 million agricultural workers in 2019, with the Bicol region accounting for about 698,000 of them.

The National Unity Party (NUP) president was one of the authors of Republic Act (RA) No. 11953, which condoned almost P58 billion in debts from over a half-million agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Related Tags

pension fund Farmers and firsherfolk lray villafuerte Agriculture
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