The government should ramp up the construction of post-harvest facilities this year to complement the increased borrowing of farmers for strategic financing for agriculture and fisheries production, AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert “Wise” T. Lee said on Wednesday.

Lee issued the call after the Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) reported loans to agriculture and rural development stood at P755.1 billion at the end of 2023, equivalent to a 23% growth compared to the third quarter of last year.

“Natutuwa tayo na nakapagpautang ang Landbank ng P255.2 billion para sa agriculture, fisheries, at rural development infrastructure projects tulad ng public markets, highways, and transport systems; P118.1 billion para sa processing ng fisheries, agri-based products at farm inputs; at P70 billion para sa modernisasyon ng pagsasaka at business processes. Malaking tulong ito para mapatatag ang ating supply chain at mapababa ang presyo ng mga produktong agrikultura,” Lee said.

“Pero kasabay nito, kailangan ding tapatan ng ating pamahalaan ang mga inutang ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda ng dagdag na infrastructure projects na popondohan ng kaban ng bayan, lalong lalo na sa post-harvest facilities katulad ng cold storage,” he stressed.

The Bicolano lawmaker pointed out that extremely high post-harvest losses have perennially shrunk the volume of agricultural products reaching the market, driving prices upwards.

“Matagal na po nating sinasabi na kailangang tutukan ang mga pasilidad na dinadaanan ng mga produkto bago makarating sa merkado. As agricultural loans increase, the government must also allocate more funding to improve and facilitate farm-to-market linkages and provide additional support to post-harvest facilities,” he said.

Lee previously said the lack of post-harvest facilities may have contributed to low local production and high prices of agricultural products, such as onions and other vegetables.

“Sa kakulangan ng post-harvest facilities, marami ang nasasayang, nalalamog o nabubulok na mga produkto, at malaki rin ang ginagastos sa pahirapang paghahatid ng ani sa merkado,” the legislator said.

Lee renewed his call for the passage of House Bill No. 3958, which mandates the government to fund the construction of post-harvest facilities like warehouses, rice mills, and transport facilities.

The solon also urged and secured the commitment of the Department of Agriculture to simplify and streamline the tedious and cumbersome requirements needed by farmers, fisherfolk and cooperatives in order to receive much-needed assistance to boost their production, stressing that “hindi dapat kilo-kilometro ang requirements ng gobyerno bago tulungan ang mga nangangailangan nating kababayan.”

“Panahon na para gawing prayoridad ang pagpapagawa ng post-harvest facilities. Hindi sapat na ang suporta sa mga agri workers ay hanggang pre-harvest o pagtatanim lamang, dapat silang tulungan hanggang sa anihan at pagbebenta ng produkto,” he said.

“Sa dagdag na suporta para sa post-harvest facilities, may dagdag na kita ang mga magsasaka at mangingisda, may dagdag pantustos sa pangangailangan ng pamilya, at bawas pangamba naman lalo sa panahon ng pagkakasakit. Bukod dito, tataas ang lokal na produksyon tungo sa food security, at mas mapapababa ang presyo sa merkado, kung saan Winner Tayo Lahat,” he added.