Provide More Support To Onion Farmers To Lower Prices: Para ‘Di Umusa Sa Online Sellers Ang Consumers!
February 21, 2024 Provide More Support To Onion Farmers To Lower Prices: Para ‘Di Umusa Sa Online Sellers Ang Consumers! AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert “Wise” T. Lee urged the Department of Agriculture to provide additional support for local farmers, such as onion producers, to increase their income and lower the price of goods, so that consumers won’t prefer cheaper illegally-sourced products online. Lee was reacting to the proliferation of smuggled onions being sold online, some for as low as ₱25 per kilogram, which have caused farmgate prices of the crop to plunge. “Hindi po natin masisisi ang ating mga kababayan kung tangkilikin nila ang mga di hamak mas murang produkto na nabibili online, kasama na itong sibuyas. Sa mahal ng mga bilihin, doon sila sa mas makakamura, at madalas ay isinasantabi na lang yung pwedeng health hazard nito,” the solon said. “Sa kabilang banda, kawawa po ang ating mga magsasaka kapag hinayaan lang natin na kumalat o dumami ang mga nagbebenta ng smuggled na sibuyas online dahil ang ending nito, masasayang o mabubulok na naman ang mga lokal na ani,” he added. The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) earlier noted that onion farmers are already incurring losses with the current ₱28 per kilo farmgate price as the production costs now stand at ₱30 per kilo. According to Lee, “dapat dagdagan ang suporta sa ating mga lokal na magsasaka, kabilang na ang on time na pagdating ng ayuda, access sa mas murang farm inputs tulad ng fertilizers at pesticides, pati na ang dagdag na post-harvest facilities gaya ng cold storages.” “Kapag tinulungan natin sila sa mas murang production costs, at mas mabilis na access sa merkado at consumers, tataas ang kita ng ating mga local farmers, na mag-e-engganyo rin sa kanilang taasan ang produksyon, na magpapababa naman sa presyo.” “’Pag nangyari ito, hindi na kailangan umasa sa ilegal at mas murang produkto na nabibili online. Panalo ang magsasaka, panalo ang consumers, Winner Tayo Lahat,” Lee stressed. The Bicolano lawmaker also called on the Bureau of Customs (BoC) to impose tighter measures to halt the entry of smuggled onions and other agricultural products into the country. He also urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to implement more stringent measures to curb the sale of illegally-sourced agricultural products online. “In coordination with the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), kailangan suriin ang health hazard ng mga ibinebentang sibuyas online, sa pagsasagawa ng phytosanitary tests, at magbigay ng kaukulang babala sa publiko lalo na kung hindi ito ligtas kainin,” Lee pointed out. “Dapat lang na paigtingin ng gobyerno ang pagprotekta sa kabuhayan at kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan. Prayoridad dapat natin kung paano mapapagaan ang pasanin ng local producers at consumers. Mahalagang masiguro na may tiyak na trabaho, dagdag na kita, sapat at masustansyang pagkain ang bawat pamilya, at mabawasan ang pangamba na walang panggastos at lalong mabaon sa hirap sa panahon ng emergency o pagkakasakit.” Leave a Reply Cancel reply Logged in as admin_wilbertleeagriadvocacy. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Latest Post 28 Nov 2024 Expanded Crop Insurance Key to Food Security, Says AGRI Party-list 26 Nov 2024 AGRI Party-list Urges Senate to Prioritize Crop Insurance Expansion 25 Nov 2024 AGRI Party-list Pushes for Expanded Crop Insurance Amid Calamities Categories Advocay Legislation Support Share on Social Media Advocacy February 21, 2024 Hot News Expanded Crop Insurance Key to Food Security, Says AGRI Party-list AGRI Party-list Urges Senate to Prioritize Crop Insurance Expansion AGRI Party-list Pushes for Expanded Crop Insurance Amid Calamities Amid calamities AGRI PL CALLS TO FAST-TRACK EXPANSION OF CROP INSURANCE COVERAGE Cong. Wilbert Lee Stresses Farmer Support as Inflation Solution at Kapihan sa QC Cong. Wilbert Lee: Supporting Farmers is Best Solution to Curb Inflation Cong. Wilbert Manoy “Wise” Lee Advocates for Stronger Support to Farmers Amid Inflation Cong. Wilbert Lee: “Ang pinakamabisang solusyon sa inflation ay pagtulong sa mga magsasaka” Cong. Wilbert Lee Champions Bigger Budget for Agriculture in 2025 Cong. Manoy Wilbert Lee Demands Action on Coconut Farmers’ Health Benefits Amid Delays
Construction Of More Post-Harvest Facilities Needed To Complement Increase In Agri Loans – Lee
February 7, 2024 Construction Of More Post-Harvest Facilities Needed To Complement Increase In Agri Loans – Lee 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. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Logged in as admin_wilbertleeagriadvocacy. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Latest Post 28 Nov 2024 Expanded Crop Insurance Key to Food Security, Says AGRI Party-list 26 Nov 2024 AGRI Party-list Urges Senate to Prioritize Crop Insurance Expansion 25 Nov 2024 AGRI Party-list Pushes for Expanded Crop Insurance Amid Calamities Categories Advocay Legislation Support Share on Social Media Legislation February 7, 2024 Hot News Expanded Crop Insurance Key to Food Security, Says AGRI Party-list AGRI Party-list Urges Senate to Prioritize Crop Insurance Expansion AGRI Party-list Pushes for Expanded Crop Insurance Amid Calamities Amid calamities AGRI PL CALLS TO FAST-TRACK EXPANSION OF CROP INSURANCE COVERAGE Cong. Wilbert Lee Stresses Farmer Support as Inflation Solution at Kapihan sa QC Cong. Wilbert Lee: Supporting Farmers is Best Solution to Curb Inflation Cong. Wilbert Manoy “Wise” Lee Advocates for Stronger Support to Farmers Amid Inflation Cong. Wilbert Lee: “Ang pinakamabisang solusyon sa inflation ay pagtulong sa mga magsasaka” Cong. Wilbert Lee Champions Bigger Budget for Agriculture in 2025 Cong. Manoy Wilbert Lee Demands Action on Coconut Farmers’ Health Benefits Amid Delays
Lee Calls For Stricter Enforcement Of Anti-Overfishing Laws To Replenish Philippine Fish Stocks
January 31, 2024 Lee Calls For Stricter Enforcement Of Anti-Overfishing Laws To Replenish Philippine Fish Stocks The government should tighten the implementation of laws to safeguard against overfishing to increase the country’s fish stock, AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert “Wise” T. Lee said Wednesday. “While President Marcos said last year that he was not imposing a fishing ban, the government should fully implement existing fishery laws and regulations that would deter illegal fishing activities and the encroachment of commercial fishing vessels into municipal waters,” Lee said. The Bicolano lawmaker issued the statement following the release of a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority, which showed a 5.2 percent decrease on the fisheries production in the country for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the year before. “Sa isang banda, natutuwa tayo na kahit papaano tumaas pa rin ang year-on-year agriculture output natin sa Q4 pero sa kabilang banda ay nakababahala rin na bumaba ang produksyon natin sa pangingisda,” he said. “Kailangang paigtingin natin ang pagbabantay sa overfishing at ilegal na pangingisda dahil ito ang pangunahing dahilan ng pagbaba ng ating fish stocks. Malaki ang maiaambag ng pagsigla ng supply natin ng isda sa isinusulong natin na food security kung saan Winner Tayo Lahat,” he stressed. Lee said the decline in fisheries production “is certainly very concerning considering that we are an archipelagic country with one of the longest coastlines in the world.” “We are declared as the world’s center of marine biodiversity and yet our fisheries output has been consistently declining. Sabi nga ng mga kabataan, make it make sense,” he said. “Naniniwala tayo na ang administrasyong ito ay may sapat na political will para ipatupad ang ating mga batas na pumoprotekta sa kabuhayan ng ating maliliit na mangingisda at mabawasan ang kanilang pangamba na walang maipantustos sa pangangailangan ng pamilya, lalo na sa panahon ng pagkakasakit.” “Kabilang dito ang implementasyon ng Fisheries Code, partikular ang paglalagay ng vessel monitoring system (VMS) at electronic reporting system (ERS) sa mga commercial fishing vessels na naglalayag gamit ang bandila natin,” he added. “Mismong ang Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources na po ang nagsabi na mandatory ang installation ng mga VMS at ERS sa lahat ng commercial fishing vessels,” he further stressed. The latest report from the PSA showed that the 0.7 percent year-on-year increase in agriculture output in the fourth quarter of 2023 was driven mainly by improved crops, poultry, and livestock production. Poultry production grew by 7.8 percent accounting for 13.7 percent of the total agriculture output, while livestock posted a 2.7 percent growth. Crop production, which accounted for the majority of the total farm output at 58.7 percent, grew 0.1 percent year-on-year. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Logged in as admin_wilbertleeagriadvocacy. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Latest Post 28 Nov 2024 Expanded Crop Insurance Key to Food Security, Says AGRI Party-list 26 Nov 2024 AGRI Party-list Urges Senate to Prioritize Crop Insurance Expansion 25 Nov 2024 AGRI Party-list Pushes for Expanded Crop Insurance Amid Calamities Categories Advocay Legislation Support Share on Social Media Advocacy January 31, 2024 Hot News Expanded Crop Insurance Key to Food Security, Says AGRI Party-list AGRI Party-list Urges Senate to Prioritize Crop Insurance Expansion AGRI Party-list Pushes for Expanded Crop Insurance Amid Calamities Amid calamities AGRI PL CALLS TO FAST-TRACK EXPANSION OF CROP INSURANCE COVERAGE Cong. Wilbert Lee Stresses Farmer Support as Inflation Solution at Kapihan sa QC Cong. Wilbert Lee: Supporting Farmers is Best Solution to Curb Inflation Cong. Wilbert Manoy “Wise” Lee Advocates for Stronger Support to Farmers Amid Inflation Cong. Wilbert Lee: “Ang pinakamabisang solusyon sa inflation ay pagtulong sa mga magsasaka” Cong. Wilbert Lee Champions Bigger Budget for Agriculture in 2025 Cong. Manoy Wilbert Lee Demands Action on Coconut Farmers’ Health Benefits Amid Delays
More post-harvest facilities, lower food prices: ‘Wag tipirin ang mga magsasaka!’ – Lee
January 21, 2024 More post-harvest facilities, lower food prices: ‘Wag tipirin ang mga magsasaka!’ – Lee AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert “Wise” T. Lee reiterated the crucial role of post-harvest facilities such as cold storages, dryers, and transport facilities to help farmers increase their income and lower food prices. Lee renewed his call to prioritize these facilities after Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said on Tuesday that a total of P93 billion is needed to build post-harvest facilities and prevent wasting corn and rice. According to the DA Secretary, around 12.7% to 15% of rice production is lost due to lack of post-harvest facilities. “We support the plan of Sec. Laurel to fund these projects dahil matagal na rin po nating panawagan ang paglalaan ng dagdag na pondo para sa post-harvest facilities,” Lee said. “We call on the House leadership to deliberate soon our proposed House Bill No. 3958 or the “Post-Harvest Facilities Support Act” and compel the government to construct and provide post-harvest facilities across the country,” he added. During the past budget deliberations, Lee repeatedly pointed out that not enough agricultural products reach the market due to extremely high post-harvest losses and lack of post-harvest services. Lee also previously questioned the DA on why the agency continued to propose low budgets for the said facilities despite the recurring problems of farmers on this phase of the agriculture value chain. “Napakalaki ng diperensya sa pondong ipinagkakaloob para sa pre-harvest activities kumpara sa inilalaan sa post-harvest facilities and services. Ang suporta ng gobyerno, hindi dapat natatapos sa pagtatanim, dapat tuloy-tuloy ito hanggang sa anihan at paghahatid ng produkto sa merkado at mga consumers,” stressed the solon. It can be recalled that during the plenary deliberations of the proposed 2024 budget of DA last year, Lee proposed to streamline and simplify the requirements to facilitate the distribution of services and establishment of facilities that will help farmers and fisherfolk increase their production, which the agency committed to do. “Nakapanlulumo yung ilang beses na nating nababalitaan na kung hindi man sinisira na lang ng mga magsasaka ang kanilang produkto, ay bumibiyahe pa sila nang napakalayo at ibinebenta na lang ang ani nang palugi kesa mabulok,” he said. “Hindi dapat tinetengga o tinitipid ang pondo para sa mga magsasaka at buong sektor ng agrikultura. Magiging Winner Tayo Lahat, mula sa mga agri workers na kikita nang mas malaki, at consumers na makakatipid sa mas murang bilihin, kung imbes na mga walang silbing proyekto, ay itong mga post-harvest facilities ang tinataasan ang pondo at mabilis na itinatayo at ipinamimigay,” the lawmaker added. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Logged in as admin_wilbertleeagriadvocacy. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Latest Post 28 Nov 2024 Expanded Crop Insurance Key to Food Security, Says AGRI Party-list 26 Nov 2024 AGRI Party-list Urges Senate to Prioritize Crop Insurance Expansion 25 Nov 2024 AGRI Party-list Pushes for Expanded Crop Insurance Amid Calamities Categories Advocay Legislation Support Share on Social Media Advocacy January 21, 2024 Hot News Expanded Crop Insurance Key to Food Security, Says AGRI Party-list AGRI Party-list Urges Senate to Prioritize Crop Insurance Expansion AGRI Party-list Pushes for Expanded Crop Insurance Amid Calamities Amid calamities AGRI PL CALLS TO FAST-TRACK EXPANSION OF CROP INSURANCE COVERAGE Cong. Wilbert Lee Stresses Farmer Support as Inflation Solution at Kapihan sa QC Cong. Wilbert Lee: Supporting Farmers is Best Solution to Curb Inflation Cong. Wilbert Manoy “Wise” Lee Advocates for Stronger Support to Farmers Amid Inflation Cong. Wilbert Lee: “Ang pinakamabisang solusyon sa inflation ay pagtulong sa mga magsasaka” Cong. Wilbert Lee Champions Bigger Budget for Agriculture in 2025 Cong. Manoy Wilbert Lee Demands Action on Coconut Farmers’ Health Benefits Amid Delays