MANILA — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said all national government offices, agencies, and local government units should stop purchasing imported rice and instead buy directly from local producers to help improve the livelihoods of Filipino farmers.

The senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, made the statement during a meeting with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Agriculture (DA), lawmakers, and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) on Thursday, October 9.

The discussion resulted in an agreement among Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, DA Secretary Francis “Kiko” Laurel, DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III, ULAP National President Gov. Dakila “Dax” Cua, Isabela Gov. Rodolfo “Rodito” Albano III, House Committee on Agriculture and Food chair Rep. Mark Enverga, House Committee on Agrarian Reform chair Rep. Leah Bulut-Begtang, and League of Municipalities of the Philippines National President Mayor Inno Dy.

“As far as government purchases of rice are concerned, it has to be locally produced rice. Government corporations, agencies, and local governments should not buy imported rice. They should buy local,” Pangilinan said.

Speaker Dy also backed the move to prioritize locally produced rice, saying, “Ito na yung kailangan natin gawin kasi talagang matindi na po ang tama sa ating mga farmers. Saka kung maaari lamang, Secretary, talagang bawal dapat bumili ang mga government, ang ating mga department ng mga imported rice, dapat locally produced rice.”

The call comes as Pangilinan urged Malacañang to issue executive orders setting a minimum floor price for wet and dry palay for government purchases to stabilize farmers’ incomes.

He said many farmers are forced to sell palay for an average of P7.66 per kilo—well below the production cost of P13.51 per kilo—due to abusive traders and middlemen.

Pangilinan added that since the government is the country’s biggest employer, its agencies and instrumentalities can provide the largest market access to local food producers such as farmers and fisherfolk.

This, he said, aligns with the objectives of his 2019 Sagip Saka Act, a law he authored to allow national government offices, agencies, and LGUs to directly purchase produce from farmers and fisherfolk without public bidding.

The measure aims to uplift the livelihoods of farmers and fisherfolk by giving them direct access to around P150 billion worth of government food purchases annually.

Pangilinan said that state colleges and universities, military camps, jails, and social amelioration programs should also source their food directly from local agricultural workers under the Sagip Saka law.

He reiterated his call for stronger cooperation between the executive and legislative branches to achieve food security and rural development, stressing that “walang kulay ang gutom” as he continues to push for measures that protect and empower Filipino farmers and fisherfolk.