The Magsasaka Para sa Lahat National Consultation Conference held last Sept. 27 to 29 in Quezon City (Magsasaka Party-list)

Lawyer Argel Cabatbat recently led the formation of an alliance among the country's agricultural groups, with his Magsasaka Party-list (MPL) at its helm. 

The alliance vowed during a recent conference to pour their efforts into uplifting the live of Filipino farmers and fisherfolks. 

Aside from MPL, signatories of the alliance include the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF), National Federation of Small Water Irrigation Systems Associations (SWISAs), Philippine Tobacco Growers Association (PTGA), National Federation of Tobacco Agricultural Cooperatives (NAFTAC), Kalipunan ng Maliliit na Magniniyog saPilipinas (KAMMPIL), Aniban ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (AMA), and various regional, provincial, and local organizations and cooperatives. 

"Together, we will strive to uplift each other and to ensure that every voice in our agricultural community and marginalized sectors is heard and valued," read the unity statement prepared by the groups. 

Joining Cabatbat in spearheading the Magsasaka Para sa Lahat National Consultation Conference held last Sept. 27 to 29 in Quezon City were FFF head Leonie Montemayor, SWISAs head Joel Pangalilingan, AMA leader Ronaldo Doganasol and KAMMPIL leader Reynaldo Monteverde. 

The groups expressed a common interest and a shared vision to create a prosperous and self-sufficient Philippines, such that every Filipino has access to safe, affordable, and nutritious food. 

"Our Alliance is here to support--not as leaders but as true partners standing with you every step of the way. Your challenges are our shared concern, and your successes are victories for every Filipino who dreams of a better, fairer, and more prosperous future," the statement further read.
 
These groups discussed the challenges being faced by farmers. These include the ongoing struggle to secure land rights and to deal with low commodity prices, further depressed by the unabated influx of imported agricultural products.   

Furthermore, the groups said, municipal fisherfolks deal with dwindling fish stocks as well as the encroachment of commercial fishing into their traditional fishing grounds. At the same time, imported fish flood the market, making it difficult for local fishers to compete. 
 
On the other hand, the poultry, ho,g and other livestock raisers grapple with rising production costs, diseases like the African swine fever (ASF), and the instability caused by imported meats. 

"These challenges, fueled by unfair trade policies and importation practices, threaten not only the survival of our agricultural sectors but also our nation's food security and self-sufficiency," the statement added.
 
The alliance vowed to support the agricultural sector to ensure that their needs would be met and their concerns heard. 

"We will ensure that the needs and rights of those who feed our nation--from rice fields to fishery areas, from poultry farms to piggeries--are finally given the attention they deserve," it said.