Explanation of Vote of Senator Francis Pangilinan on Senate Bill 1396 Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues,

This representation votes in favor of the passage of Senate Bill 1396 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act after we in the Senate, this representation, and others of course, and thankfully accepted by our sponsor, put in place safeguards in the use of the coconut levy funds; strengthened farmers representation by ensuring small coconut farmers are represented in the reconstituted Philippine Coconut Authority Board; and provided Congressional oversight in the implementation of the Act.

We also introduced amendments to institutionalize accountability by ensuring a complete accounting, inventory, audit, as well as the proper turnover, of these coconut levy assets to the government.

However, Mr. President, even as we vote in the affirmative, we vote yes with reservations because during the period of amendments, we proposed to include one farmer representative, as well as the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, in the composition of the Trust Fund Management Committee. However, this proposed amendment was not carried.

Mr. President, I have said this before and reiterate now: Farmer representation is key to this measure.

Mahalaga ang pakikilahok ng mga magniniyog sa lahat ng aspeto ng pagdedesisyon pagdating sa coconut levy funds dahil una at higit sa lahat, galing sa kanilang pawis at hirap at dugo ang pera.

Pera na bunga ng kanilang paghihirap nang naparaming taon.

Pera na kinuha pa sa kanila ng gobyerno para sana sa kanilang kakainin, sa pagpapaaral ng mga anak, at pagpapagamot ng kanilang maysakit na mahal sa buhay;

Pera na ipinagpatayo ng isang bangkong matatakbuhan sana ng ating mga magniniyog sa kanilang mga pangangailangan at ng napakaraming kumpanya ng gilingan, shipping, trucking, at iba pa na dapat sana ay napakinabangan nila;

Pera na dapat sana ay pinakinabangan nila upang guminhawa ang buhay at tumaas ang kanilang kita at umangat ang kalidad ng buhay nila.

Subalit hanggang sa ngayon, isa sa pinakamahirap sa sektor ng agrikultura ang ating mga magniniyog.

Una at higit sa lahat, pera ito ng ating magniniyog na ipinagkait sa kanila sa loob ng halos limampung taon, It has been almost 50 years -- 48 years to be precise -- since the first levies were imposed on Filipino coconut farmers. That's how long our 3.5 million coconut farmers have endured the injustice and the poverty.

That being said, Mr. President, we understand the urgent need that our coconut farmers be provided as soon as possible with the necessary support through the programs provided under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan. Mas maigi na sigurong maipasa na natin ito kaysa wala o tumagal pa lalo bago mabigyan ng suporta ang ating mga magniniyog.

This measure we pass today is about correcting these injustices and making sure that the injustice of the past will never be repeated and that the prospects of the future will be bright.

Last year, our coconut farmers earned 143 pesos a day, according to the 2021 National Expenditures Program. Sa dinami-dami ng pinaggagamitan ng niyog -- sa sabon, sa pagkain, sa building materials, at kung anu-ano pa, dapat mayaman na ang ating magniniyog. Big dollar earner pa ang niyog. Of the country's top agricultural exports, three are coconut products: coconut oil, dessicated coconut, and copra oil cake. And according to the World Bank, the Philippines remains to be the top coconut oil-producing country in the world. A huge dollar earner, and yet the farmers remain poor. Sana sa tulong ng batas na ito, makikinabang na ang ating magniniyog sa pera nila lalo pa't kasama ang magandang prospects ng coco water, virgin coconut oil, at iba pa.

So we remain hopeful. Gaya ng araw-araw na diskarte sa buhay ng karaniwang Pilipino, gagawan din ng paraan ng ating magniniyog itong batas na ito para mapalawig ang kanilang boses at mapabuti ang kanilang kapakanan at kinabukasan.

We thank the Senate President, the good Sponsor, and our colleagues for the patience in reading through all our amendments and for taking the time to support and approve this measure.

Given all these, Mr. President, to state on the record, we vote yes with reservations. Salamat po.