By Danilo P. Padua, PhD
One-third of the senators of the 20th Congress plan to file bills, as priority, in support of the aggie sector. There are at least 17 of such bills. Good number I may say.
The Senators with priority bills on agriculture are: Kiko Pangilinan (6), R. Marcoleta (3), Imee, Marcos (3), Lacson (1), JV Ejercito (1), Chiz Escudero (1), Bato Dela Rosa (1), and E. Tulfo (1)
Question is, how many of them will become a law? And how many will be well-crafted such that they will pass close scrutiny even after 6 years?
At least the paramount importance of the aggie sector in our national scheme of things is recognized beyond any iota of a doubt by our legislators in the Senate. Making the sector vibrant, more efficient, sustainable and responsive especially to our food security concerns, seem to be a lock in as far as the Upper Chamber is concerned.
For a change, the long-standing chairperson of the Agric Committee in the Senate had fully-served her three consecutive terms. It was a tumultuous upmanship, to say the least. She had the temerity and the habit of shaming DA officials in Senate committee hearings, if their plans, however well-thought of, are not in accordance to her own perception.
A new horseman is on the saddle; for this alone, more positive things are expected to happen. Or, is this a fair expectation?
Let us take a look at some of the bills to be proposed.
Lacson’s “Kabataang Magsasaka Scholarship Program” bill should be one in the right direction. Our farmers are seriously aging; their children are not wont to follow in the footsteps of their parents. They consider their small farm lots like a grill less jail. This reality has to be considered in the bill. If this will be enacted into law, will it answer the issue of aging farmers? It’s a big question mark.
The Agri-Food Terminal and Trading Centers of JV Ejercito is not a new elephant. AFTs and TCs are already in existence. Maybe what the senator wants is to add or improve on these. And that would be most welcome. Actually I saw many Agri-Food Terminals in various towns around the country. They are so small, they are just standing, jutting out like a sore thumb. Naturally, they are not functioning as intended. I hope Sen Ejercito is thinking of much larger, functioning Agri-food terminals in every region.
E. Tulfo’s “Review of the Rice Tariffication Law” should be of vital importance to our rice and corn farming. For one, it should be properly revised to bring back the traditional role of NFA, to institutionally solve the problems on pricing, local procurement, importation, and others. It is being awaited with bated breathe.
It would be interesting to see the bill, “Filipino Farmers Financial Assistance Program Act”, to be proposed by Sen Dela Rosa. Maybe it could be merged with Marcoleta’s, “An act institutionalizing the Fert and Pesticide Subsidy Program under the DA, and appropriating funds thereof”. If the former is mainly about assistance during calamities and other unforeseen occurrences, then it could stand alone.
Marcoleta’s bill on the other hand might put us in a bind with the World Trade Organization, of which our country is a member. Enacted laws related to farm subsidies could make us lose some privileges such as lower tariffs for our farm product exports in the world market. Careful about this.
Three of the priority bills of Sen Kiko Pangilinan: “Free Breakfast Program and Sustainable Agric Act”, “Agric Land Conversion Ban Act”, “Post-Harvest Facilities Support Act” appear to be collectively, a possible shot in the arm for agriculture. All of them addressing crucial issues for the sector, with impact on the national economy. Crafted satisfactorily into law, these should somehow “atone” for his faux pas as the principal author of a law that hindered prosecution of criminals below 15 years old.
I hope the senators will include bills on: a. how to make very small holdings of farmers more productive, more profitable and more efficiently managed—in relation to economy of scale, and b. collaboration among national agencies and between national agencies and LGUs to address artificial low supply in certain regions but oversupply in other regions.
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