Sa Bicol Region! Sigaw Ng Mga Magsasaka: ‘Nasasaktan Na Kami Sa RTL’

The whole day yesterday, I travelled the stretch of the Bicol Peninsula in my continuing journey all over the country to hear the voices and feel the pulse of our people.

Nagsimula ako sa Libmanan at San Fernando, Camarines Sur, two of the major rice producing towns of a province which is one of the top rice production areas in the country, then I dropped by Ligao, Albay to meet with the leaders of the Rural Improvement Clubs and then proceeded to Bulan, Sorsogon to meet with farmer leaders who belong to the Small Water Irrigation Systems Association.

Iisa lang po ang aking narinig sa ating mga magsasaka: pagsusumamo na sana ay dinggin ng ating gobyerno ang kanilang hinaing na rebisahin ang batas na nagpabagsak ng presyo ng ksnilang palay, mula sa P20 per kilo noong unang mga taon ng administrasyong Duterte to as low as P8 per kilo the other day in Camarines Sur.

The prevailing farm gate price in Bicol now is below P14 per kilo at kapag umuulan at walang mapagbilaran ay babagsak ng P8 to P10.

Baka sabihin ng mga kritiko na gawa-gawa ko lang ang sinusulat ko dito.

Here are the names of the farmer leaders who were engaged by my campaign leader in Camarines Sur, farmer Jessie Abocado and whose grievances I listened to yesterday:

– Benito Noora- SWiSA Chairman, Del Pilar, San Fernando

-Menard Olivan- Framer Leader, Rizal, San Fernando

– Randy Trinidad Flordelez, SWISa , MilaOr

– Alvin Fabi- Cammco, San Fernando

– Jovito Panelo St Peter & St. Paul Farmers Asso., San Fernando

– Avelino Asignado- Mambulo, Libmanan Farmers Asso.

– Mario Tunay- Bungsaran Farmers Asso. libmanan

– Ariel Agricula- Sta. Cruz Pamukid Farmers Asso., San Fernando

– Arnulfo Cabase- Balagbag SWISA MilaOr

– Sonia Deleon – Bonifacio Irrigators Asso., San Fernando

– Randy Buen- SWIAa Provincial Director, Sorsogon.

These are real people and their stories are true.

Until today, I still could not understand why our Economic Managers and Policy Makers have remained deaf and insensitive to the cries of our rice farmers.

They have always pointed to the abstract inflation numbers in justifying the continued implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law.

This disconnect between our Economic Managers and lawmakers has to be addressed and corrected.

With God’s Grace, should I be successful in the quest to win a seat in the Senate, I will offer myself as the cord who would connect the voiceless with the policy and decision makers of government.

#CommitmentOfTheFarmboy!

#GovernancIsCommonSense!

(Photos and drone shots by the Biyaheng Senado media team.)