A lawmaker sees the need to review the implementation of the more than two-decade-old Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) in a bid to update its enforcement, if necessary.

Ang Probinsyano Party-list Rep. Alfred delos Santos on Friday, March 29, vowed to pursue and prioritize agriculture developments in rural areas, including through reviewing the said measure.

AFMA was passed in 1997 to ensure the welfare of small farmers and fisherfolk towards modernization of agriculture. 

According to Delos Santos, key areas need to be addressed to target improvement of agricultural productivity.

This includes adoption of modern technologies, farming practices and quality inputs; enhancing market access through research and development support; providing training and education that equips farmers with skills in management and marketing technologies.

By addressing these areas, he said the government can help ensure that farmers receive a fair income, and that "rural communities are empowered to break the cycle of poverty." 

He proposed to review the AFMA modernization process to help keep the government plans on track.

In the last review conducted and published in 2022 by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, its findings showed that Philippine agriculture and fisheries progressed, but not yet modernized since the passage of AFMA.

"The law is already in place, we just need to vigorously pursue its intentions, that these are applied to really remove the barriers that hinder the development of our agriculture and fisheries sector," he said.