Road To Food Suffiency! Plant In All Vacant Spaces To Boost Farm Production

Everytime I take the long drive from Manila to Mindanao via the Pan-Philippine Highway, I could not help but feel sad seeing the many unused fertile land, especially those under the tall and old coconuts.

Sana kung mataniman ng secondary crop ang mga areas na ito, mapapakinabangan sana at makatulong pa sa pagpaparami ng pagkain sa bansa.

Pero hindi ko rin masisisi ang mga may-ari ng lupa sapagkat kulang din sa guidance na galing sa gobyerno kung ano ang dapat itanim.

Most of all, dapat masagot din ng gobyerno ang pangangailangan ng ating mga magsasaka ng access sa market and a fair price for their produce.

Dito papasok yong advocacy ko for Maximum Utilization of Land and a Market-Guided Agriculture and Fisheries Program.

By identifying and quantifying the food requirements of the country, the government could implement a Market-Guided Food Production Program which would engage our farmers and fishermen and assure them of just and fair returns for their labor.

Market access could be facilitated through the establishment of the Regional Food Consolidation Centers where farmers and fishermen will deliver their produce and get paid.

The Regional Food Consolidation Centers, on the other hand, will reposition the food supplies to the FTI Food Outlets located in and around the metropolitan areas so that consumers would also have access to commodities at affordable prices.

Puede po natin gawin itong programa through a legislation which would revive the Food Terminal Inc. and expand its coverage all over the country, especially in key food production areas.

Kikita ng maganda ang mga magsasaka at mangingisda dahil wala nang maraming mga dicers at middlemen at magiging abot-kaya naman ang presyo ng mga preskong pagkain para sa ating mga mamimili.

#GovernanceIsCommonSense!

#KungGustoMaramingParaan!

(This video was prepared by the media team of the Biyaheng Senado Ni Manny Piñol.)