MANILA — One year after returning to the Senate following his fifth-place finish in the 2025 midterm elections, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said he remains committed to pursuing reforms aimed at modernizing the country’s agriculture and fisheries sectors.

Pangilinan marked the occasion by leading the first-ever Sagip Saka Day at the M.I.C.E. Center in Quezon City, coinciding with the seventh anniversary of the Sagip Saka Act, a law he authored in 2019 that allows national and local governments to directly purchase food from farmers and fisherfolk without public bidding.

The senator said the law continues to benefit stakeholders in the agriculture sector but acknowledged that more reforms are still needed.

“Ngayon, pitong taon matapos maging batas, marami-rami na rin ang umaani sa batas na itinanim natin noong 2019. Subalit, ika nga may kasabihan: marami pa tayong bigas na kakainin,” Pangilinan said during his speech at the event. “Marami pang kinakailangang gawin.”

Pangilinan said his decision to seek another Senate term was anchored on his goal of improving the lives of farmers and fisherfolk while addressing rising food prices and strengthening food security.

He said his agriculture and fisheries agenda is centered on the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act, including pushing for a Government Procurement Policy Board resolution to clarify ambiguities in the law and supporting Executive Order Nos. 100 and 101, which seek to establish a mandatory floor price for palay to protect farmers from low farmgate prices.

“Kahit saan ako pumunta, nasa kotse ko ito, dinadala ko (Referring to Sagip Saka Law). Pag may nakilala ako kung sino man yan, manililimos tayo ng mga tutulong at susuporta sa mga pamahalaang lokal, pamahalaang pambansa para matiyak ang full implementation nito,” he said.

The senator is also advocating for the renationalization of agricultural extension services to provide farmers and fisherfolk with cash aid, credit support, technical assistance, and training programs.

In addition, Pangilinan is seeking the reestablishment of the Bureau of Agriculture Cooperatives to strengthen existing cooperatives and encourage more farmers and fisherfolk to join organizations that could improve market access and economies of scale.

He also warned of a possible food crisis if the government fails to prepare adequately for challenges confronting the agriculture sector.

“Mayroong potential food crisis na haharapin ang ating bansa. Pero pag handa tayo, nagtutulungan tayo, ang gobyerno aktibong nakikialam at nag-iintervene, kaya natin lagpasan,” Pangilinan said.

“Alam kong maraming masakit na problema ang pagtaas ng krudo. Masakit ang problema ng mataas na presyo ng pataba. Kaya hanapan natin ng solusyon,” he added.