AGRI Party-list Representative and Senatorial aspirant Manoy Wilbert Lee welcomed the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) initiative to allocate P3 billion for the construction of 99 cold storage facilities across the country. However, he underscored the need for comprehensive supply monitoring to prevent price surges in agricultural products.
“For years, we have pushed for increased funding for post-harvest facilities, particularly cold storage units, to match pre-harvest services. This initiative is long overdue,” said Manoy Wilbert Lee.
Aside from advocating for larger budget allocations during budget deliberations, AGRI Party-list has proposed legislation to boost support for cold storage facilities, dryers, threshers, and transport equipment—all crucial for improving farmers’ income and stabilizing food prices.
Despite the promising development, Manoy Wilbert Lee emphasized that these efforts would be ineffective without a strict and efficient monitoring system.
“These cold storage units will have little impact if there is no effective supply monitoring system in place. Hoarders and price manipulators continue to exploit agricultural supply gaps, driving food prices up while Filipinos struggle with affordability,” he warned.
As the principal author of Republic Act No. 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Law, Manoy Wilbert Lee continues to push for reforms that will protect farmers and consumers from unfair trade practices.
One of the key measures proposed is House Bill No. 3958, or the Post-Harvest Facilities Support Act, which mandates the DA—along with the DPWH, DAR, and DTI—to provide post-harvest equipment and storage facilities to farmer cooperatives.
The looming Food Security Emergency has prompted discussions about short-term and long-term solutions for food affordability and supply stability.
“We support the Food Security Emergency declaration, but it’s only a temporary fix. Long-term strategies are needed to ensure sustained support for Filipino farmers and local food producers,” Lee stressed.
“Food security is a national security concern. Farmers are our ‘food security soldiers.’ We must prioritize funding, proper infrastructure, and immediate action to ensure a stable and affordable food supply for all Filipinos,” Manoy Wilbert Lee concluded.
#ManoyWilbertLee #AGRIPartylist #SupportFarmers #FoodSecurity #ColdStorage #AgriculturalReform
