The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor) are known among lawmakers as the providers of ambulances to their respective congressional districts.

But what if these vehicle donations could instead become a boon for the country’s farmers? That's the question on Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos' mind.

“Can the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. donate trucks for farm logistics instead of ambulances?” Bernos asked on Thursday, May 7.

According to the Ilocano, there is difficulty in procuring hauling trucks that could ease logistics concerns of farmers.

In a recent Senate hearing, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said that the agency was providing logistics support to farmers through the mobilization of DA-owned hauling trucks.

However, Laurel conceded to the senators that the agency’s capacity remains limited.

Bernos raised the possibility of Pagcor and PCSO, along with other government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), donating trucks and other forms of logistical and post-harvest support to help ensure the country’s food security.

“Of course, we laud the Pagcor and PCSO for their efforts to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery through their donation of patient transport vehicles. But as a further challenge, I would like to call on our GOCCs to also help bridge the gap in agriculture,” he said.

The Abra lawmaker earlier called on the government to make agriculture a top priority to avoid the country plunging into a food crisis in the near future as a result of the oil crisis.

He said that donating hauling trucks to local government units could help solve one of the lingering issues in the country’s agriculture sector.

“It is no big secret that the lack of logistics support for our farmers has led to massive crop spoilage across the country. Makakatulong ang truck donation para maiwasan ito (Truck donations will help prevent this)," Bernos said.