MANILA – Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan called for greater government support for small-scale farmers and fishers, saying empowering the country’s food producers is key to achieving food security and sustainable economic growth.

Speaking at the Department of Agriculture’s 51st Gawad Saka Awards at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pangilinan said the government should strengthen policies, institutions, markets, and support systems that will enable farmers and fishers to maximize their potential and improve their livelihoods.

“Kapag nabigyan natin ng tamang pagkakataon ang maliliit na magsasaka at mangingisda na maabot ang kanilang buong kakayahan, umangat ang kita, ang full potential, hindi lamang sila ang aangat. Kasama nilang i-aangat ang kanilang mga komunidad at doon lamang matitiyak ang sustainable economic growth sa ating bansa,” he said.

“When we create a climate and an environment where small farmers and fishfolk can fully realize their individual potential, we also unlock the potential of their communities, and the rest of the nation,” he added.

Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, urged policymakers to shift their focus from agricultural production figures to improving the quality of life of Filipino farmers and fishers, saying sustainability and human dignity should be the benchmarks of agricultural development.

“To secure our food, we must secure our farmers and fisherfolks,” he said.

The senator, who authored and sponsored the Sagip Saka Act of 2019, addressed top agriculture officials, technocrats, and industry stakeholders during the event. The law allows national government agencies and local government units to procure food directly from accredited farmers’ and fisherfolk’s cooperatives without public bidding.

Organized by the Department of Agriculture and local government units, the Gawad Saka Awards is the agency’s highest national recognition for excellence in agriculture. Established in 1970, the annual awards honor farmers, fisherfolk, and institutions for innovations and sustainable practices that contribute to food security and rural development.

This year, 37 national winners were selected across eight major categories and 47 subcategories. The awardees received project grants and cash incentives ranging from P180,000 to P2 million to support the expansion of their enterprises.

Pangilinan said the awardees demonstrate how innovation can help build a more climate-resilient and equitable agriculture sector.

He also urged stakeholders to pursue long-term reforms that would shield farming and fishing communities from economic shocks and the growing impacts of climate change.

Pangilinan said the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform will soon conduct hearings on challenges facing the agriculture and fisheries sectors, including smuggling, overimportation, rising production and input costs, climate change, and post-harvest losses caused by inadequate infrastructure.