Pangilinan pledges more farm jobs, lower food prices in Senate bid

Former senator and food security chief Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Wednesday vowed to continue his support for the country’s agricultural sector if he will be elected to the Senate anew.

After filing his certificate of candidacy for senator, Pangilinan said the high price of food commodities and continuous poverty being experienced by farmers reflect the lack of support to agriculture.

“Tayo po ay tumatakbo dahil naniniwala po tayo na ang sinimulan nating adhikain sa hanay ng agrikultura ay dapat nating ituloy,” Pangilinan told the media at the Commission on Elections headquarters in Intramuros, Manila.

([I am] running [for Senate] because [I] believe that the goals we have started working on in the agriculture sector must be continued.)

READ: Pangilinan appointed presidential assistant on food security | ‘Uninspired, ’ ‘burned out’ Kiko hesitant on running in 2016

Pangilinan emphasized the need to generate more agricultural jobs to alleviate poverty.

“Kailangan magakaroon ng dagdag na trabaho sa ating sakahan upang masugpo ang kahirapan lalo na sa mga lalawigan… Ang susi sa pagsugpo ng kahirapan at presyo ng bilihin ay dagdag na suporta sa mga magsasaka,” he said.

“Tututukan natin ang pagpaparami ng trabaho sa sektor ng agrikultura para mailayo sa kahirapan ang ating mga magsasaka,” the former senator added.

(There is a need for more farm jobs to fight poverty particularly in the provinces…The key to eradicating poverty and the [high] price of commodities is to augment support for farmers.)

(We shall focus on generating more jobs in the agriculture sector to steer our famers from poverty.)

Pangilinan, who served as senator from 2001 to 2013, was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III as presidential assistant on food security and agricultural modernization in May 2014.

Emerging as one of the front runners in the senatorial race according to recent preference surveys, Pangilinan will run under the Liberal Party-led “Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid” of the administration.

He was accompanied by his wife, “Mega Star” Sharon Cuneta, and children during the filing. CDG

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