Pangilinan pushes to double agriculture budget to ensure food security

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan vowed to sustain agricultural programs for more sustainable food production if he gets elected in Eleksyon 2022.

In an episode of The Mangahas Interviews Special Election Series, Pangilinan underscored that the budget of the agricultural sector must be doubled to ensure food security in the country.

“Yung ating adbokasiya sa agrikultura mahigit 10 taon na. Ilang batas na tayo para tugunan ang problema ng ating agriculture and fisheries sector at itong mga programang ito ay dapat full implementation ang mga batas. Dapat madoble yung budget sa agrikultura para yung gutom ay mawala na,” he said.

(Our advocacy on agriculture has been there for more than 10 years. We passed many laws on how to address the problem of our agriculture and fisheries sector and these programs must be fully implemented. The agricultural budget must be doubled so that hunger will be eradicated in the country.)

The vice presidential aspirant assured that he will push for continuity in the programs for agriculture and fisheries to sustain the development in these sectors.

“Kung nais natin talaga ng pagbabago dapat sustained at ako ay naniniwala na continuity ng anywhere between 10 to 15 years ng continuity sa leadership tulad nung mga naranasan ng ibang bansa kinakailangan ng continuity at yun ang dapat nating isulong sa darating na panahon,” he added.

(If we really want change, we must sustain these programs. I believe that the continuity of anywhere between 10 to 15 years of leadership like what other countries have experienced requires continuity and that is what we must promote in the future.)

Meanwhile, the senator said COVID-19 testing should be free for the public. Stricter contact tracing and swift rollout vaccination must also be implemented, adding that there should be no corruption in the COVID-19 response.

“Unang una dapat talagang seryoso at hindi pinagkakakitaan ang COVID-19. Dapat walang kurakot sa COVID-19 response,” he said.

(First of all COVID-19 should be taken seriously and not be monetized. There should be no corruption in the COVID-19 response.)

On the war on drugs, Pangilinan said it should be a holistic and science-based approach.

He said drug users must not be viewed as criminals and should be given support and rehabilitation.

“Ang pagtingin dapat natin sa mga adik hindi sila criminal. Ang dapat pagtingin sa kanila kinakailangan ng suporta ng rehabilitation at mabigyan ng pangalawang pagkakataon,” he added.

(We treat drug users as not criminals. They need rehabilitation and support and should be given a second chance.)

Pangilinan also urged for an additional budget in online learning, adding that there should be allocated funds for load allowance and gadgets for teachers and students. 

The senator also called for face-to-face classes in COVID-19 low risk areas. 

“Dapat may face-to-face classes, may online may naghaharap na estudyante sa klase pero kailangan paghandaan at bigyan ng suporta ang ating mga teacher,” he added.

(There should be face-to-face classes in COVID-19 low risk areas. We should be prepared and support should be given to the teachers.)

Pangilinan was first elected as senator from 2001 to 2007. He ran for a second term and ended his stint in 2013.  He served presidential food security adviser under the Aquino administration. He was then reelected in the Senate in 2016.—LDF, GMA News