MANILA — Senator Francis Pangilinan is urging the swift passage of two key agricultural reform measures, warning that rising global tensions—particularly in the Middle East—could disrupt food supply chains and drive up prices of basic goods.

In separate sponsorship speeches on Wednesday, Pangilinan called on lawmakers to prioritize the proposed Agricultural and Fisheries Cooperatives Act and the Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Act, describing them as crucial to strengthening local food production and reducing reliance on imports.

The senator said the measures would build on the gains of the Sagip Saka Act, which allows government agencies and local government units to directly purchase produce from farmers and fisherfolk without public bidding.

Under the proposed cooperatives measure, Pangilinan said agricultural groups would be strengthened across the entire value chain—from production and processing to logistics, marketing, and digital agriculture. The bill also provides tax incentives and encourages government financial institutions to extend preferential support to cooperatives.

He added that stronger cooperatives would allow farmers and fisherfolk to achieve economies of scale and participate more effectively in government procurement programs.

Meanwhile, the proposed extension services measure seeks to “renationalize” agricultural support systems by deploying extension workers down to the მუნიციპալ level, ensuring faster delivery of government services and assistance to rural communities.

Pangilinan stressed that beyond subsidies, farmers need access to training in climate-smart agriculture, technology, insurance, and other modern farming tools.

The senator also raised concerns over the country’s growing dependence on agricultural imports, noting that these have doubled over the past decade.

“We have to correct the broken system of agriculture in the country,” he said, pointing out that many Filipino farmers remain burdened by debt despite the sector’s importance.

Pangilinan emphasized that investing in agriculture is key to safeguarding long-term food security, especially as geopolitical tensions continue to threaten global supply chains.