GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Members and representatives of farming cooperatives made their concerns known to lawmakers who attended the second day of the 23rd League of the Municipal Agricultural Officers, Municipal and City Agriculturists of the Philippines (LeMMCAP) National Convention, an annual gathering for local agricultural officers to strategize and enhance agricultural production.
1Tahanan Partylist Congressman Nathan Oducado, together with Senator Kiko Pangilinan, visited members and representatives of farmers’ cooperatives in General Santos City yesterday to listen to their concerns and discuss measures to strengthen the agricultural sector.
“Mindanao is the backbone of our country’s food supply, producing a significant share of what reaches Filipino tables every day,” said Cong. Oducado. “We must invest in its farmers and protect its role as the nation’s agricultural stronghold.”
Oducado pointed out House Bill No. 8740, also known as the Mindanao Food Basket Act, which aims to officially recognize Mindanao as the country’s food basket and requires investments in things like infrastructure, research and development, access to loans and markets, and farming methods that can withstand climate change to improve productivity and farmers’ earnings.
“But we recognize the reality that many young people are leaving agriculture due to hardship, low income, and lack of support,” Oducado added. “The government must step in to encourage and protect the future of agriculture by strengthening the next generation of farmers.
Oducado also proposed House Bill No. 8749, or the Magna Carta of Young Farmers, which aims to recognize young farmers as a separate group and ensure they have rights to land, loans, technology, education, and market access, while also setting up a National Young Farmers Council and a plan to involve them in making policies and developing the agriculture sector for the long term.
“Government must also stand with our farmers during times of disaster and crisis when they lose not just crops, but their livelihoods,” Oducado added. “If we want food security, we must first secure the welfare of those who produce our food.”
Oducado also supported House Bill No. 8739, which aims to improve the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation by offering insurance for valuable crops, livestock, fisheries, and farm property, adding weather-based insurance, and providing government help with insurance costs to protect farmers from losses caused by disasters.
The visit ended on a positive note, with both leaders describing the day as fruitful and reaffirming their commitment to push for policies that uplift Filipino farmers.
