Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III will prioritize the agriculture sector if elected president and vice president, respectively.
The Lacson-Sotto tandem has a “well-studied” program that aims to address the concerns of farmers.
“We are prepared to address the concerned of the farmers not only in Negros Island but in the whole country as well,” Lacson told reporters from Western Visayas during an online press conference.
“Hindi kami nagsasalita ng sinasabi lang naming motherhood statement. Kami may program talaga, paano ang gagawin at kayang kaya ng budget ng gobyerno,” he added.
Citing the importance of the national government’s interventions, Lacson and Sotto proposed that the government buy 50 percent of the farmers’ produce at farm-gate prices.
Presently, the government only buys two percent of the farmers’ output.
Sotto said many farmers are “happy and hopeful” that the proposal will be realized.
Meanwhile, Lacson said the government’s support is vital to help farmers recover from the ill-effects of Typhoon Odette that hit the Visayas areas last December 2021.
“Naglalagak taon-taon sa General Appropriation Act ng calamity fund. I think our farmers through the media should sound off to the government,” he said.IMT
