2 agricultural bills among LEDAC priority measures

MANILA, Philippines — Two measures seeking to overhaul the country’s agricultural support systems and empower farming cooperatives are now priority measures of the Marcos administration.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, author of the bills, said the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council has officially added Senate Bill 1991 (Agricultural and Fisheries Extension Services Act) and SB 1990 (Agricultural Cooperatives Act) to the administration’s priority legislative agenda.

The measures aim to provide farmers and fisherfolk with direct institutional support, modern technology and stronger cooperative structures to ensure long-term food security and stabilize commodity prices.

Pangilinan welcomed their inclusion, stressing the urgency of translating government promises into tangible grassroots services.

Under SB 1991, a coordinated national extension system will provide agricultural workers with technical assistance, research-based technologies, and training on climate-smart farming.

Meanwhile, SB 1990 seeks to reestablish the Bureau of Agriculture Cooperatives to help rural workers consolidate resources, improving their access to financing, heavy equipment and direct markets.

Pangilinan noted that Filipino food producers are currently battered by soaring production costs while being left behind by global technological advancements.

By modernizing the sector, the measures ultimately aim to lower market prices for basic goods, thereby increasing the purchasing power of ordinary consumers.

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