Pangilingan bats for P800-B DA budget for next 6 years

Senatorial candidate Kiko Pangilingan proposed an additional P800 billion allocation to the Department of Agriculture for the next six years to turn Mindanao into the country’s food basket.

According to a statement on Saturday, Pangilinan made the proposal during the campaign rally of Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra.

“Mapababa natin ang presyo ng bigas at iba pang pagkain. At ang paraan, taon-taon, sa anim na taon ng isang panunungkulan ng isang Pangulo, dadagdagan ng P100 billion kada taon ang budget ng agrikultura at pangingisda. So that after the end of six years. Magiging P800 billion, P700-800B dapat ang ating budget sa agrikultura,” Pangilinan said.

(Let us lower the price of rice and other food. To achieve that, each year within a president’s six-year term, the budget of agriculture and fishing will be increased to P100 billion so that, after the end of six years, it will be P800 billion. Our budget will be P700-P800 billion for agriculture.)

Pangilinan said this proposal will give Mindanao the support it needs to become the country’s food basket.

He also called on the public to vote for candidates with good track records and accomplishments and reject those who avoid facing critical issues such as corruption.

“Tingnan natin kung may involvement sa graft and corruption sa mga senador. Tingnan natin sino ang may nagawa. Tingnan natin sino ang nanahimik kapag may kaso ng katiwalaan na hini-hearing,” Pangilinan said.

(Check if the senatorial candidates are involved in graft and corruption. Discern their accomplishments. Let’s see who kept quiet when there were corruption cases.) —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News

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