KIKO CALLS ON DTI AND THE PUBLIC TO BE VIGILANT AGAINST "OPPORTUNISTIC FOOD PRICE HIKES, ARTIFICIAL FOOD SHORTAGES"

In light of damage and flooding wrought by recent typhoons, as well as the oncoming rains brought about by the monsoon season, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan calls on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the public to be vigilant against what he calls "opportunistic food price hikes and artificial food shortages."

"Hindi naman kaila sa atin na tuwing nasasalanta tayo ng bagyo, kasunod na nito ang pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain at mga bilihin," Pangilinan points out. "Kailangan nating bantayan na hindi ito gagawing dahilan ng mga mapagsamantalang negosyante para lang magtaas ng presyo nang basta-basta at maging pahirap sa taumbayan."

"Hinihimok natin, lalung-lalo na, ang mga LGU, ang mga kooperatiba, at ang pribadong sektor na magsama-sama upang tulungan ang mga magsasaka at mga mangingisda na maaaring mawalan ng kabuhayan sa panahon ng bagyo. Habang hindi natin mapipigilan ang pananalanta ng mga bagyo, maaari tayong gumawa ng paraan para magkaroon ng seguridad at mga 'safety nets' na tinatawag ang ating mag magsasaka at mangingisda."

"Alam naman natin na humigit-kumulang sa dalawampung bagyo ang dadaan sa Pilipinas kada taon. Nasa letter 'G' pa lang tayo so marami pang bagyo ang darating. Kailangan na nating simulan ang paghahanda sa ating mga sakahan," the senator adds.

Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, cites how public-private partnerships can lead the way in disaster mitigation and management in agricultural communities. The senator launched in January 2012 a program known as Sagip Saka, an advocacy in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, the Congressional Oversight Committee for Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization (COCAFM), and key stakeholders in the private sector, that works to provide farmer and fisher groups with access to credit, markets, infrastructure, technology, research and development, and organizing capabilities. Since its launch in January, Sagip Saka has funded P100 million worth of projects in 24 communities around the country.

"Based on our experience, Sagip Saka is a good model for public-private partnerships for agriculture and fisheries. We call on the rest of government and the private sector to see how this model can be used to provide social and economic safety nets for both agricultural communities and the public during times of flooding and disaster. We have proven the effectiveness of such a model, and we are sure that other solutions can spring forth from this."