DUMAGUETE CITY – Implementing budget reform and institutionalizing the Kadiwa store are the keys to helping the agriculture sector and ending poverty especially in the Negros region, former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Thursday.
Lacson and former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III are advocating a bigger role for local government units (LGUs) to work with the national government in buying crops from farmers at a fair price, instead of them being forced to sell to middlemen at a loss.
This jibes with the Kadiwa store system’s concept of farm-to-market intervention to help farmers.
“Why not institutionalize the Kadiwa store system by way of legislation? This is a work in progress. Assuming we win, this will be one of my legislative priorities,” Lacson said in Filipino at a press conference of the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate here.
Related: Ping Lacson: Budget Reform, Kadiwa System Susi vs Kahirapan sa Negros
Also, Lacson said channeling funds from the national budget to the LGUs will lead to post-harvest facilities and support for the sugar industry, as well as livelihood programs that will address poverty in the island.
“If we can channel taxpayers’ money through the LGUs, we will promote development and livelihood. After all, LGUs are the backbone of our nation’s livelihood and development,” he said in an interview with Bombo Radyo Philippines early Thursday.
“This is why we need to empower the LGUs, so the entire country can benefit. This will lower poverty and keep inflation from worsening,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lacson stressed the need to curb importation of sugar and agricultural products, which he said causes the industry to suffer.
“Instead of expanding our sugar plantations, we are killing the industry because of our import quotas to big business. And our farmers do not stand a chance against lower-priced imports,” he said.
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Ping Lacson: Budget Reform, Kadiwa System Susi vs Kahirapan sa Negros
DUMAGUETE CITY – Ang budget reform at pag-institutionalize ng Kadiwa store ang susi para matulungan ang agriculture sector at tapusin ang kahirapan lalo sa Negros region, ayon kay dating Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson ngayong Huwebes.
Sinusulong ni Lacson at dating Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III ang mas malawak na papel para sa local government units (LGUs) para bumili ng ani sa magsasaka sa patas na presyo, para hindi sila malulugi sa pagbenta sa middlemen sa sobrang murang presyo.
Ito ay naaayon sa konsepto ng Kadiwa store system na may nararapat na farm-to-market intervention para tulungan ang magsasaka.
“Bakit di natin ma-institutionalize ang Kadiwa store by way of legislation? So yan ay work in progress, assuming mananalo, ito ang isa sa mga legislation na itutulak ko sa Senado,” ani Lacson sa pulong pambalitaan ng Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate dito.
Iginiit din ni Lacson na dapat magkaroon ng budget reform kung saan ang pondo sa pambansang budget ay idadaan sa LGUs para magkaroon ng post-harvest facilities at suporta para sa industriyang asukal at agrikultura, pati na rin ang livelihood programs para tugunan ang kahirapan.
“Kung ito mailalatag natin, maidadaloy sa pamamagitan ng national budget ang biyaya, mga buwis naman natin ang binabayaran, magkakalat ang development at livelihood. After all tingin ko ang LGUs, sila ang backbone ng livelihood at development sa ating bansa,” aniya sa panayam sa Bombo Radyo Philippines Huwebes ng umaga.
“Kaya kailangan pagyamanin natin sila nang sa ganoon, ang buong Pilipinas makinabang. Mabawasan ang kahirapan, ang inflation ma-maintain,” dagdag niya.
Samantala, iginiit ni Lacson na kailangan na ring bawasan ang pag-import ng asukal at ibang produktong agrikultura na dahilan ng paghihirap ng ating agrikultura, dagdag niya.
“Sa halip na palawakin natin ang taniman ng mga tubo, pinapatay natin halos sila dahil nagbibigay tayo ng import quota sa malalaking negosyante kaya wala tayong kalaban-laban kasi ang presyo ng asukal galing sa ibang lugar ay mas mababa di hamak,” aniya.
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