About two months ago, I saw a new Facebook page started by a young and idealistic farmer from Zambales calling on me to vie for a seat in the Senate in 2022.
Today, that page has reached 30,000 members and it would be totally insensitive for me not to acknowledge this movement and thank young farmer Gabriel Hebron Francisco for believing in my capabilities as a farmer leader and agriculture advocate.
Doon sa mga nagdududa na pakana ko ang Facebook page na yan, wala po akong kinalaman dyan.
I don’t know Gabriel Hebron Francisco personally and I have not even exchanged messages with him but I checked his page and validated that he is a real young farmer.
Ang paghimok sa akin na tumakbong Senador ay nagsimula pa noong 2018.
In fact, binibiro na nga ako noon ni Pangulong Rody Duterte na mag Senador.
Pero buo po ang aking pasya na manatili bilang kalihim ng Agrikultura sapagkat yon talaga ang pangarap ko na merong totoong magsasaka na mamumuno sa Dept. of Agriculture.
Nagbago po yan noong isabatas ang walang limitasyong importasyon ng bigas through the Rice Tariffication Law na mahigpit kong tinutulan.
Maliwanag po ang aking posisyon sa isyu ng RTL: Let us import a volume enough to fill the shortfall and to establish a buffer stock and reject the idea of “unimpeded rice importstion.”
Bagamat naipasa ang RTL at sa simula ay sinubukan kong suportahan maski labag sa aking kalooban, doon nagsimula ang hidwaan namin ng mga Economic Managers na syang naging dahilan ng aking pagbibitiw bilang Agriculture Secretary.
Masaya po ako sa aking bagong tungkulin bilang Chairman ng Mindanao Development Authority.
Bagama’t kapiranggot ang budget (P176-M budget ng MinDA kumpara sa P70-B ng DA), marami pa rin kaming nagagawa.
I am writing this post to acknowledge the movement started by Gabriel Hebron Francisco.
This does not mean, however, that I am convinced.
There are realities in politics that we have to consider, one of which would be the logistics needed for a nationwide campaign which I obviously don’t have.
Wala tayong yaman na puede iwaldas sa pangangampanya sa politika.
Ang aking position as Chairman of MinDA is a fixed 6-year term which ends August 2025.
Besides, there is a big part of me that prefers the peace, serenity, quiet and comfort of my farm.
Pero, sige lang magpatuloy lang kayo at magmamasid at makikinig lang ako.
In the meantime, I will continue with my work as MinDA Chairman.
This early, isang taos-pusong pasasalamat na ang aking ipinapaabot sa inyo, lalo na sa batang magsasaka na si Gabriel Hebron Francisco ng Zambales.
Ipapaubaya ko sa Panginoon ang paglalatag ng landas na aking tatahakin sa nalalabi pang mga taon sa aking buhay.
Kung ano man ang loobin Nya, ako’y susunod at tatalima.
Isa lang ang lagi ko’ng nasa isip: God’s greatest glory is man fully alive!
#FarmingIsInMyBlood!
#MabuhayMagsasakangPilipino!
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