Zambo farmer expresses hope in Kiko's Batas Sagip Saka in Biyahe ni Kiko visit

LUNZURAN, Zamboanga City -- Vice-presidential aspirant Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Thursday added the community of farmers here to the growing list of visited areas as part of his "Biyahe ni Kiko" campaign (BNK) in a bid to introduce Batas Sagip Saka to various stakeholders.

"Narito tayo ngayon upang ipakilala sa ating mga lokal na magsasaka dito ang kagandahan na dulot ng Sagip Saka Act kung maayos lang ang implementasyon ng batas," Pangilinan said.

Batas Sagip Saka compels local government units and national government agencies to purchase goods directly from farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives in order to strengthen and improve the livelihood of local food producers.

Although this was signed into law in 2019, many farmers across the country remain unaware of the law, making it difficult for them to uplift themselves from the pit of poverty.

Edgardo Serna admitted that he knows about the passage of Batas Sagip Saka, but implementation remains to be the stumbling block.

On Thursday, Serna, a farmer for most of his life, got the chance to meet and speak with Pangilinan, who discussed with them the important provisions of the law.

"Aware naman ako tungkol sa Sagip Saka Act pero ang problema kasi niya is iyong implementation sa grassroots, especially dito sa Zamboanga. Siguro naman alam din ito ng local government pero hindi nila nai-implement nang 100% kasi kung na-implement sana ito, kaming mga farmers ay may maayos na kita," Serna said.

Pangilinan's visit gave a morale boost to Serna and his fellow farmers to direct the local government of Zamboanga to start implementing the law that will be beneficial to the local farmers here.

"Lalapitan namin si Mayor at sasabihan siya tungkol dito sa Sagip Saka Act para ma-implementa nang maayos dito sa Zamboanga para naman matulungan ang mga magsasaka dito na magkaroon ng maayos na pagkakakitaan at buhay," Serna said.

Apart from Pangilinan's eloquence in explaining a seemingly complex law like Batas Sagip Saka, Serna appreciates the lawmaker for making time visiting them.

"Si Senator Kiko, ang aura niya ay approachable at madaling malapitan. Hindi maarte. Hindi mahirap kausapin. Kapag kinausap mo ay nakikinig siya. Parang kasama lang namin siya sa pagsasaka," he said.

"Natuwa kami na ipinaliwanag talaga sa amin ni Sen. Kiko kung ano ang nakalagay doon sa batas. Nakakataba ng puso kasi siya mismo iyong nagpaliwanag kung paano makakatulong sa amin itong Sagip Saka Act. Ibig sabihin parang kasamahan lang talaga namin siya, parang kaibigan," Serna added.

For his part, Pangilinan said he will continue visiting farming communities to discuss Batas Sagip Saka and its benefits.

"Kung nais nating ma-secure ang pagkain natin, bumaba ang presyo ng mga bilihin lalo na ng bigas at iba pang pangunahing pangangailangan, kailangang tulung-tulong tayo na mabigyan ng suporta ang mga magsasaka't mangingisda," Pangilinan said.

"And what better way to that than visiting their communities and bringing to their attention the benefits of the Sagip Saka Act. Nariyan na ang batas, kailangan lang nilang malaman na mayroon ganito para naman magkaroon sila ng kumpiyansa na hindi sila pinapabayaan ng gobyerno," he added.