MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has warned that he will push to defer the 2025 budgets of government agencies that fail to present clear implementation plans for the Sagip Saka Act, a landmark law he authored to support local farmers and fisherfolk through direct government procurement.

Signed into law in 2019, the Sagip Saka Act (Republic Act 11321) empowers national and local government units to purchase agricultural products directly from producers without public bidding, ensuring steady income for farmers and access to nutritious food for communities.

However, Pangilinan said many agencies and local government units have yet to fully uphold the law six years after its enactment.

“Nag-file na tayo ng resolusyon sa Senado. Gusto kong marinig sa mga ahensya, lalo na ang DILG, paano ninyo ipinatutupad ang batas na ito?” Pangilinan said during a visit to Nueva Ecija on Wednesday, July 9.

He said he intends to raise the issue during budget deliberations with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Pag sinabi nilang wala silang plano–wala rin silang budget. Sasabihin ko sa kanila: ipakita niyo sa akin ang plano niyo. Bago mag-Pasko ng 2025, dapat bumibili na kayo direkta sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Kung hindi, hindi ko aaprubahan ang budget ninyo–na bilyon-bilyon ang halaga,” he said.

Pangilinan, who campaigned in 2025 on a platform centered on food security and farmer empowerment, has been meeting with agencies and local governments to ensure full implementation of laws that strengthen the agricultural sector.

“Halimbawa, DOH–may 60 ospital kayo sa buong bansa. Saan kayo kumukuha ng pagkain para sa mga pasyente araw-araw? Dapat bahagi niyan ay kinukuha direkta sa mga magsasaka,” he said, adding that DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has committed to issuing a department order supporting the law’s implementation.

Pangilinan emphasized the law’s purpose: to make the government the largest and most dependable buyer of locally grown food, ensuring both economic support for producers and improved nutrition for communities.

“Walang kulay ang gutom. Walang kulay ang solusyon,” Pangilinan said. “Pero may sagot na tayo. Ipatupad lang natin.”MANILA — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has warned that he will push to defer the 2025 budgets of government agencies that fail to present clear implementation plans for the Sagip Saka Act, a landmark law he authored to support local farmers and fisherfolk through direct government procurement.

Signed into law in 2019, the Sagip Saka Act (Republic Act 11321) empowers national and local government units to purchase agricultural products directly from producers without public bidding, ensuring steady income for farmers and access to nutritious food for communities. However, Pangilinan said many agencies and local government units have yet to fully uphold the law six years after its enactment.

“Nag-file na tayo ng resolusyon sa Senado. Gusto kong marinig sa mga ahensya, lalo na ang DILG, paano ninyo ipinatutupad ang batas na ito?” Pangilinan said during a visit to Nueva Ecija on Wednesday, July 9.

He said he intends to raise the issue during budget deliberations with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Pag sinabi nilang wala silang plano–wala rin silang budget. Sasabihin ko sa kanila: ipakita niyo sa akin ang plano niyo. Bago mag-Pasko ng 2025, dapat bumibili na kayo direkta sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Kung hindi, hindi ko aaprubahan ang budget ninyo–na bilyon-bilyon ang halaga,” he said.

Pangilinan, who campaigned in 2025 on a platform centered on food security and farmer empowerment, has been meeting with agencies and local governments to ensure full implementation of laws that strengthen the agricultural sector.

“Halimbawa, DOH–may 60 ospital kayo sa buong bansa. Saan kayo kumukuha ng pagkain para sa mga pasyente araw-araw? Dapat bahagi niyan ay kinukuha direkta sa mga magsasaka,” he said, adding that DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has committed to issuing a department order supporting the law’s implementation.

Pangilinan emphasized the law’s purpose: to make the government the largest and most dependable buyer of locally grown food, ensuring both economic support for producers and improved nutrition for communities.

“Walang kulay ang gutom. Walang kulay ang solusyon,” Pangilinan said. “Pero may sagot na tayo. Ipatupad lang natin.”