The Provincial Government of Pangasinan will start implementing a Palay Procurement Program where the government will purchase directly from farmers to supply provincial government institutions and projects.
In a dialogue with local government units (LGUs) of Pangasinan, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said that it is the essence of the Sagip Saka Act.
“Nakita na natin ito sa Camarines Sur at sa Isabela. Natutuwa kami na gagawin na rin ito ng Pangasinan, at aktibong-aktibo ang lokal na pamahalaan sa pagtulong at suporta sa ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda,” Pangilinan.
Fourteen provincial government-operated hospitals, the provincial jail, as well as various relief operations and other government institutions will benefit from this procurement.
“The provincial government will purchase palay from our farmers especially those marginal farmers… Excited na rin po kami sa Pangasinan dahil hindi na dadaan sa public bidding. Because syempre kailangan po immediate response ng gobyerno natin lalo na sa panahon ng pangangailangan,” Pangasinan Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya said.
Other instances of direct-buying from farmers already happened earlier in Pangasinan. In Alaminos, Mayor Arth Bryan Celeste said that his office was able to help the town’s watermelon farmers tide through a tourist-less season due to the pandemic.
“Nung nag-ripen na yung mga prutas ng mga farmers dito, nawalan po sila ng customers. Ang ginawa po ng ating lokal na pamahalaan ay doon na po namin binili. Isa na po iyon sa mga pinamahagi natin sa relief operations ng ating city, yung pakwan,” Celeste said.
“It’s two birds with one stone po siya. You are helping the farmers and at the same time, you are giving nutritious value sa relief operations na ibinibigay sa mga kababayan sa Alaminos,” he said.
Maricel San Pedro, a consultant of Bayambang, said that they were old beneficiaries of the Sagip Saka Program in 2012. Their local bank was able to get a grant and, in turn, was able to capacitate local farmers in various Pangasinan towns.
“Namili rin na rin po ang LGU ng palay ng mga farmers noon, P10-11 pero ang LGU ay binili sa mga magsasaka ng P15. Malaki po ang tinutulong,” San Pedro said.
According to Pangilinan, the 2012 Sagip Saka projects were the inspiration for the current Sagip Saka Law.
“Nakita natin ang kahalagahan kung ang private sector, LGU, farmers groups, funding institutions at micro-lending, namo-mobilize lahat upang masuportahan iyong agriculture at ang ating farmers and fisherfolk,” Pangilinan said.