AGRI PARTY-LIST

Month: February 2024

Lee To DENR: Update List Of Abandoned, Undeveloped, Underutilized Fishponds For Mangrove Conversion

Legislation / By

Lee To DENR: Update List Of Abandoned, Undeveloped, Underutilized Fishponds For Mangrove Conversion AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee on Wednesday urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to update its list of abandoned, undeveloped, and underutilized (AUU) ponds covered by Fishpond Lease Agreements (FLA) so that these may be converted back to mangrove forests. Citing the Amended Fisheries Code, Lee said it is the duty of the DENR, together with local government units, other concerned agencies, and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (FARMCs), to determine which AUU fishponds covered by FLAs can be reverted to their original mangrove state and to take all steps necessary to restore such areas in their original mangrove state after such determination has been made. “Mangrove forests are important especially in coastal communities as they provide not only a source of food but also protect coastlines and prevent erosion,” he said. “Malinaw po na nakasaad sa Republic Act No. 8550 o Fisheries Code na kailangang mayroong listahan ang DENR ng mga hindi na ginagamit o napabayaan nang mga palaisdaan. Responsibilidad din ng DENR na ibalik ang mga ito sa pagiging mangrove forests,” he added as he called for the full implementation of the law. Lee undercored the need to tighten the implementation of laws and policies, stressing that “We already have the law in place, kailangan lang ang maayos at seryosong pagpapatupad nito.” “Dapat maipatupad ang mga batas sa pangangalaga sa kalikasan bilang proteksyon din ng ating mamamayan mula sa sakuna, at para mabigyan sila ng tiyak na kabuhayan, dagdag na kita, sapat at masustansyang pagkain, at mabawasan ang pangamba na wala silang panggastos ‘pag sila ay nagkasakit,” the solon said. The Bicolano lawmaker also called for adequate budgetary support to fast-track the conversion of the AUU fishponds back to their original mangrove state, as part of the effort to restore mangrove cover in the country. “According to scientists and leading maritime conservation groups, about 50 percent of our mangroves have been lost to fishpond conversion and other coastal projects, making us the second worst country in Southeast Asia in terms of mangrove losses. It is high time that we do something about this,” he said. Moreover, Lee, principal author of House Bill No. 9662, or the “Blue Economy Act,” called on the Senate to approve their version of the bill. The proposed legislation would provide a framework for the safe use and sustainable development of maritime resources in the country. “Blue economy” refers to a practical ocean-based economic model using green infrastructure and technologies, innovative financing mechanisms, and proactive institutional arrangements for meeting the twin goals of protecting our oceans and coasts and enhancing its potential contribution to sustainable development, including improving human well-being, and reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. “Kailangan nating pangalagaan ang ating yamang tubig upang mapakinabangan din ito ng mga susunod pang henerasyon para Winner Tayo Lahat, maging ang ating mga apo sa tuhod at apo sa talampakan. Huwag nating paabutin sa puntong huli na ang lahat bago tayo kumilos,” he said. Legislation Share the News! Previous PostNext Post Latest Posts​ 09 Oct 2024 Cheaper Rice now! Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee Calls for Efficient Supply Chain to Stabilize Rice Costs​ 09 Oct 2024 Agri Party-List Seeks Reelection, Commits Continued Support for Agri, Vulnerable Sectors 08 Oct 2024 Round-the-Clock Port Operations: Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee Pushes for 24/7 Government Services to Lower Rice Prices Categories Activities Advocacy Previous Activities Legislation Support

Provide More Support To Onion Farmers To Lower Prices: Para ‘Di Umusa Sa Online Sellers Ang Consumers!

Advocacy / By

Provide More Support To Onion Farmers To Lower Prices: Para ‘Di Umusa Sa Online Sellers Ang Consumers! AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert 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.”  Advocacy Share the News! Previous PostNext Post Latest Posts​ 09 Oct 2024 Cheaper Rice now! Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee Calls for Efficient Supply Chain to Stabilize Rice Costs​ 09 Oct 2024 Agri Party-List Seeks Reelection, Commits Continued Support for Agri, Vulnerable Sectors 08 Oct 2024 Round-the-Clock Port Operations: Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee Pushes for 24/7 Government Services to Lower Rice Prices Categories Activities Advocacy Previous Activities Legislation Support

Construction Of More Post-Harvest Facilities Needed To Complement Increase In Agri Loans – Lee

Legislation / By

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 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.  Legislation Share the News! Previous PostNext Post Latest Posts​ 09 Oct 2024 Cheaper Rice now! Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee Calls for Efficient Supply Chain to Stabilize Rice Costs​ 09 Oct 2024 Agri Party-List Seeks Reelection, Commits Continued Support for Agri, Vulnerable Sectors 08 Oct 2024 Round-the-Clock Port Operations: Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee Pushes for 24/7 Government Services to Lower Rice Prices Categories Activities Advocacy Previous Activities Legislation Support