SEN. Francis N. Pangilinan pressed for the availability of a P4.12-billion annual fund in the budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to bankroll direct food purchase for its feeding programs to “combat hunger, and uplift the livelihood” of Filipino farmers and fishermen.
The opposition senator moved to amend the Bayanihan 2, which was adopted by the Senate, paving the way for the inclusion of General Provision 22 in the 2021 General Appropriations Act (GAA) mandating government agencies, including DSWD, to implement direct purchase from farmers and fisherfolk for their food requirements.
Pangilinan, a vice presidential aspirant in the upcoming national elections, praised fellow lawmakers for enabling the DSWD to set aside funding for the direct purchase of agricultural products for their feeding programs intended for farmers and fishers.
“We are extremely elated that the DSWD is fulfilling this mandate,” he said.
At the same time, Pangilinan’s Sagip Saka Act also sought to lower food prices and make affordable food accessible to all Filipinos by uplifting the lives of food producers, reminding that farmers and fisherfolk are frontliners whose need for livelihood must be addressed, especially during this pandemic.
“Ang ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda ay mga frontliners din. Kailangan din nila ng sapat na kita para mapakain ang kanilang pamilya. At dahil panahon ng pandemya, marami sa kanila ang humina ang kita kaya naman malaking tulong ang direktang pagbili na ito dahil diretso sa bulsa nila ang kita. Kasabay pa nito napakain natin ang mga bata at iba pang mga benepisyaryo ng feeding programs ng DSWD,” he said.
Moreover, the senator acknowledged the DSWD’s Supplemental Feeding Program also seeks to give nutritious food to children in daycare centers between 2 and 4 years old.