MANILA—Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for signing Executive Orders (EO) Nos. 100 and 101, which mandate a government-wide floor price for rice purchases and the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act.

“Salamat sa Pangulo at sa lahat ng nagsunog ng kilay para maipatupad ang Executive Order Nos. 100 at 101. Sa ngalan ng lahat ng Pilipinong magsasaka at mangingisda, 100 and 101 percent na pasasalamat!” Pangilinan said in a statement.

Under EO No. 100, national government agencies, state universities and colleges, and government-owned or -controlled corporations are required to buy palay directly from farmers at the National Food Authority’s (NFA) regional floor prices.

The NFA recently set the price of dry palay at ₱23 to ₱30 per kilo and wet palay at ₱17 to ₱23 per kilo. The senator said the EO includes a transitory provision to allow immediate implementation during the harvest season this November, ensuring that farmers receive fair compensation while final guidelines are being crafted.

Pangilinan, principal author of the Sagip Saka Act, said the twin orders would provide much-needed relief to small rice farmers who have struggled since the passage of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).

“Kulang pa rin ang naging kita ng ating mga magpapalay makalipas ang ilang taon mula nang maipasa ang RTL, kaya ipinaglaban natin na mapirmahan ang dalawang EO na ito para mai-angat natin muli ang buhay ng mga kamay na nagpapakain sa atin araw-araw,” he said.

He added that the EOs mark a “major victory” for farmers’ welfare, but stressed that the advocacy continues: “Tututukan natin ang pagpapatupad ng dalawang EO hanggang abot-kaya na ang sapat na pagkain ng lahat ng pamilyang Pilipino at maayos na ang kita ng bawat magsasaka at mangingisda.”