BONG GO CALLS FOR COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT FOR FARMERS AS TWO TYPHOONS AFFECT AGRICULTURE SECTOR

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has voiced strong concern over the significant damage wrought by recent typhoons, which have ravaged crops across various regions in the Philippines.

This devastation has left many farmers struggling to recover, amplifying the urgency for comprehensive government support to aid their recovery and ensure their long-term resilience.

“Ang hirap ng pinagdadaanan ng ating mga magsasaka. Kailangang dagdagan pa ang suporta ng gobyerno para sa kanila, lalo na sa mga lugar na laging naaapektuhan ng kalamidad,” said Go, stressing the importance of targeted assistance and strategic solutions to uphold the livelihoods of farmers.

Highlighting Baggao, Cagayan, as an illustrative case study, Go described the plight of hundreds of corn farmers whose harvests were adversely affected by Typhoon Leon. This recent disaster underscored the recurring vulnerabilities faced by the agricultural sector in calamity-prone areas.

“Marami sa ating mga magsasaka ay nababaon sa utang tuwing nasasalanta ang kanilang ani. Dapat natin silang protektahan, hindi lang sa pamamagitan ng emergency relief, kundi ng pangmatagalang solusyon tulad ng crop insurance, capacity enhancement, at dagdag puhunan,” Go added.

Go emphasized the need to bolster support mechanisms for Filipino farmers to safeguard them against unforeseen disasters. Farmers, he noted, play a crucial role in maintaining the country’s food supply yet remain highly vulnerable during times of crisis.

In line with his legislative priorities, Go has advocated for full crop insurance coverage for agrarian reform beneficiaries, ensuring they are compensated for losses due to natural disasters, pest infestations, and plant diseases without the burden of costly premium fees.

He also urged the expansion of coverage by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation to include non-crop agricultural assets, such as livestock and fisheries.

Additionally, Go highlighted the importance of more accessible and simplified credit facilities for farmers to protect them from predatory lending practices.

Farmers from areas like Baggao have shared their experiences of salvaging what little they could from flood-ravaged fields, knowing that their primary source of income had already been wiped out. Go stressed that while immediate relief is necessary, long-term solutions are essential for building resilience within the sector.

“Ang mga simpleng hakbang tulad ng pagbibigay ng libreng binhi, abono, at makinarya ay malaking tulong na. Pero dapat ay mas palawakin pa natin ang mga farmers’ markets kung saan direkta nilang maibebenta ang kanilang mga ani sa mga mamimili,” Go remarked.

He also underscored the value of education and training programs for farmers, believing that modern knowledge and techniques are vital for fostering a resilient agricultural community.

“Itaguyod natin ang mga libreng training at edukasyon para sa mga anak ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Sa ganitong paraan, mananatili ang interes ng kabataan sa agrikultura,” he added.

As a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Go has consistently advocated for strengthening agricultural support systems, recognizing farmers’ invaluable role in sustaining the nation’s food security.

Go was one of the authors of Republic Act No. 11901, or the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Rural Development Financing Enhancement Act of 2022, which enhanced the financial structure supporting agriculture, fisheries, and rural development. This law is designed to offer improved access to credit for rural communities, particularly benefiting farmers, fisherfolk, and agri-based workers. The goal is to elevate their well-being, competitiveness, and productivity.

Moreover, Go was a co-sponsor and co-author of RA 11953, also known as the New Agrarian Emancipation Act. This legislation condones loans accrued by agrarian reform beneficiaries, encompassing the related interests, penalties, and surcharges.

Additionally, the senator filed Senate Bill No. 2117, a proposed measure that aims to ensure thorough crop insurance protection for agrarian reform beneficiaries. To complement the bill, Go filed SBN 2118 to improve insurance coverage and services for farmers and address the agricultural sector’s susceptibility to the consequences of natural disasters, if enacted into law.

Earlier, Go emphasized the importance of improving competitiveness and safeguarding local farmers and industries amid the ratified Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement. Go believes that with open competition due to RCEP, the prices of goods should decrease, and ordinary Filipinos, especially the poor and those in the agricultural sector, must benefit from it.

“Dapat masigurado natin na kahit may bagyo o tagtuyot, hindi magugutom ang Pilipino. Ang food security ay isyu ng pambansang seguridad. Importanteng sikapin nating may laman ang tiyan ng bawat Pilipino para sila ay maging malusog, protektado at produktibo,” Go concluded.