MANILA — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has called on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to certify as urgent a measure institutionalizing government extension services for farmers and fisherfolk to boost rural development and improve the lives of agricultural workers.

Pangilinan, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, said he will ask the President to prioritize the passage of Senate Bill No. 1182, or the Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Act of 2025, which he filed on August 13.

In a privilege speech last week, the senator highlighted the importance of strengthening agricultural cooperatives and providing extension services at the provincial and municipal levels.

“Uumpisahan na natin ang mga hearing tungkol dito at hinihiling natin sa pangulo na i-certify itong mga bills bilang urgent–extension service at pagpapalakas ng agriculture coops under the DA (Department of Agriculture),” he said.

Pangilinan cited his own experience as a farmer-CEO running a farm in Alfonso, Cavite for more than a decade, saying the nearest DA regional office to him is three hours away in Lipa, Batangas. He noted this distance has hampered access to critical government support such as loans, financial aid for pesticides and fertilizers, and technical training.

Under the proposed measure, a Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Agency would be created to replace the Agricultural Training Institute. The new body will serve “as the national apex organization for a unified and efficient agriculture and fisheries extension system of the country.”

“It shall ensure that public extension services meet the national standards of performance and effectively contribute towards the achievement of the national goals of agriculture and fisheries modernization and sustainable development,” the bill stated.

The law would also mandate the hiring of new agriculture experts, including provincial agriculture and fisheries officers, assistant PAFOs for fisheries and agriculture development, city agriculturists and fisheries officers, and municipal agriculture and fisheries officers.