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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Food security is national security': Aquino holds dialogue with Pangasinan farmers

'Food security is national security': Aquino holds dialogue with Pangasinan farmers

Published Mar 4, 2025 08:11 am

Former senator Bam Aquino, who is running for another Senate term this May 2025 polls, held a dialogue with farmers from Aguilar, Pangasinan, where he emphasized that “food security is national security.”

Bam_Pangasinan2.jpegIndependent Senate bet Bam Aquino talks to a Pangasinan farmer on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Bam Aquino Media Bureau)

“Ang food security ay national security. Matatag ang bansa natin kung kayang pakainin ng mga Pilipino ang sarili niyang kababayan. Kayo po iyon, kayo ang gumagawa noon (Food security is national security. Our country is stronger if Filipinos can feed themselves. That’s what you’re doing),” he told farmers.

The ex-senator underscored the need to change government policies, especially in importing rice.

“Dapat iyong tulong umaabot sa inyo (Help should reach you),” Aquino added.

The former official, who previously spent one term in the Senate, called anew for the amendment of the Rice Tariffication Law for the country to achieve food security.

He cited how the law, which was aimed at bringing access to cheaper rice, failed at lowering rice prices and also adversely impacted local farmers.

Aquino stressed also the need to ensure that funding for subsidies, farm machinery, and fertilizer is reaching farmers to improve their production and income.

Lipa farmers

Meanwhile, former senator Kiko Pangilinan, who is running alongside Aquino as “alternatives” to the administration and Duterte-backed senatorial bets, also spent time with the cluster heads of Asosasyon ng mga Magsasaka ng Lipa in Lipa City, Batangas.

Kiko_Lipa.jpeg
(Photo from Team Kiko Pangilinan)

The ex-senator and former Aquino administration food security czar pushed for the restoration of funding for high-value crops like coffee to revitalize the local coffee industry.

He also believed this would provide sustainable livelihoods for coffee growers, and stressed that local government units should buy directly from coffee growers and other farmers.

Pangilinan underscored why it’s important for him to hold dialogues with members of the agricultural sector.

“Napakahalaga na nakinig tayo sa kanila, nalaman natin mismo ang kanilang mga daing at paano natin sila mas mabuting matutulungan at mabigyan ng suporta (It’s very important to listen to them because we’ll know their grievances and how we can better help and support them),” he said.

Related Tags

matalinong boto 2025 2025 Senate race Kiko Pangilinan Bam Aquino
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