Under his presidency once elected in the 2022 national elections, Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson will cleanse the Department of Agriculture from top to bottom, to remove the stench of corruption from its anomalies such as the fertilizer scam and other unscrupulous government deals.
In his opening statement at the 47th Philippine Business Conference and Expo Presidentiables’’ Forum, Lacson explained his vision for the country’s agriculture and fisheries sector, including it being “corrupt-free.”
“My cross-cutting policy in this sector will target the anomalous and the unscrupulous as I intend to clean the Department of Agriculture from top to bottom ranks,” he told the forum organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the premier business group in the country.
“Under my watch, there must be no stench of corruption in the likes of fertilizer scam, kickbacks from distribution of farm implements, and ‘tong-pats’ (bribes) on imported products, among the many other controversies that have been hampering the progress of our food providers,” the veteran senator said.
“Under my leadership, there will be an end to the cycle of abuse, poverty, and food insecurity among our food providers, our farmers and fisherfolk,” added the longtime public servant.
Lacson’s vision for the agriculture sector, he told PCCI, is best encapsulated through these three points: (1) Expansion of opportunities for Filipino farmers and fisherfolk; (2) Deviation from the import-dependent mentality; and (3) a corrupt-free agriculture sector.
The Partido Reporma chairman vowed to institutionalize the creation of Regional Food Terminals to enhance food production and logistics in our local areas.
He also reiterated the need to complete the longtime backlogs in the country’s irrigation systems, “which at present, stands at 35.8% of the total 3.12 million hectares of irrigable area.”
“I have authored the Free Irrigation Service Act, but much is left to be desired in terms of its implementation,” said Lacson, stressing these acts are needed to expand opportunities for Filipinos in agriculture.
The 18-year Senate veteran also sees government intervention for workers in the sector through technical support and assistance involving the three basic agriculture components — seed, fertilizer, and irrigation.
“We can and we will carry out alternatives to lower our reliance on importation,” he said, as rampant unchecked smuggling has hurt local food prices and led to huge wastage of crops left unsold.
This is all part of what Lacson said is the fight against “the most disruptive ‘war’ of our lifetime,’ adding: “Modestly speaking, we have long prepared ourselves for this battle. All we humbly ask is for our people to join us in this quest.”