AGRI PARTY-LIST

Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee

Manoy Wilbert Lee emphasizes food security as a national security priority.

AGRI TO DA: FAST-TRACK BUILDING P3-B WORTH OF COLD STORAGES, IMPLEMENT COMPREHENSIVE SUPPLY MONITORING TO AVOID PRICE SURGE

2025 News, Advocacy / By

AGRI TO DA: FAST-TRACK BUILDING P3-B WORTH OF COLD STORAGES, IMPLEMENT COMPREHENSIVE SUPPLY MONITORING TO AVOID PRICE SURGE AGRI Party-list and Senatorial aspirant Manoy Wilbert Lee welcomed the initiative of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to construct around 99 cold storage facilities for fruits and vegetables nationwide with a total budget of P3 billion, as he renewed his call to implement a more comprehensive supply monitoring of agricultural products to avoid price surge. “Maganda ang inisyatibang ito ng DA, lalo pa’t matagal na natin itong panawagan. Bukod sa pangangalampag natin sa mga nakaraang budget deliberations na taasan o ipantay ang pondong inilalaan sa post-harvest facilities kabilang ang cold storages sa pre-harvest services, naghain din tayo ng panukalang batas para dagdagan ang suporta sa mga pasilidad na siguradong magpapataas sa kita ng mga magsasaka at local food producers,” AGRI Party-list said. “Malinaw din na mababalewala lang ang mga itatayong cold storages kung walang mahigpit at epektibong monitoring sa supply, at kung hindi pa rin masasampolan ang mga hoarders na walang konsensyang nagpapataas sa presyo ng bilihin, habang nagpapakasasa sa sobrang kita,” it added.  AGRI Party-list, principal author of Republic Act No. 12022 or the “Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Law”, has been consistently pushing for legislative measures that will reduce the prices of food by providing additional support for the agricultural sector and protecting the livelihood of local food producers. Under its House Bill No. 3958 or the “Post-Harvest Facilities Support Act”, the DA, in cooperation with various government agencies including the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), shall provide farm equipment and machinery such as cold storages, dryers, threshers, and transport facilities to farmer cooperatives. Earlier, in connection with the looming declaration of Food Security Emergency in the country, AGRI stressed the importance of sufficient support for farmers saying, “Sang-ayon po tayo sa pagdedeklara ng food security emergency para mapagaan ang pasanin ng ating mga kababayan, pero naniniwala tayo na panandaliang solusyon lang ito.” “Bukod sa short-term solutions, dapat simulan na ang pagpapatupad ng long-term solutions para maging kumpleto ang suporta sa mga local food producers, at hindi na kailanganin pang magdeklara ng food security emergency sa hinaharap,” AGRI stated. “Food security is a national security issue. Dapat gawing prayoridad ang pangangalaga at suporta sa ating mga local food producers o ‘food security soldiers’ dahil nakasalalay sa kanila ang sapat na supply at murang pagkain. Dapat buhusan at paglaanan ito ng tiyak na pondo taon-taon, at siguruhin ang mabilis na implementasyon ng mga programa para maramdaman agad ng mga Pilipino ang benepisyong hatid nito,” it added. Previous Activities Share the News! Previous Post Latest Posts​ 27 Jan 2025 AGRI TO DA: FAST-TRACK BUILDING P3-B WORTH OF COLD STORAGES, IMPLEMENT COMPREHENSIVE SUPPLY MONITORING TO AVOID PRICE SURGE 18 Jan 2025 Better Transport Policy for Murang Pagkain: AGRI Party-list’s Vision 17 Jan 2025 Murang Pagkain: Strengthening Food Security Through Better Logistics Categories Activities Advocacy Legislation Support Previous Activities 2024

Manoy Wilbert Lee emphasizes food security as a national security priority.

Murang Pagkain, ‘wag hulihin!AGRI PL to DOTr: OPEN EDSA BUSWAY FOR AGRI, FOOD DELIVERY VEHICLES AT NIGHT

2025 News, Advocacy / By

Murang Pagkain, ‘wag hulihin! AGRI PL to DOTr: OPEN EDSA BUSWAY FOR AGRI, FOOD DELIVERY VEHICLES AT NIGHT AGRI Party-list Representative and Senatorial Aspirant Manoy Wilbert Lee has filed a measure urging the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to open and expand the EDSA busway during night hours for the use of agricultural and food delivery vehicles, to facilitate the efficient transport of essential supplies, promote food security and lower prices. AGRI Party-list pointed out that the transport of agricultural goods faces several challenges, particularly in Metro Manila, where traffic congestion hampers the timely arrival of perishable goods, leading to food wastage and increased costs for both suppliers and consumers. In filing House Resolution No. 2162, AGRI seeks to accommodate agricultural and food delivery vehicles, particularly those transporting perishable goods, from 10PM to 5AM, including Sundays and holidays, as a means of ensuring the prompt and efficient movement of essential food supplies into Metro Manila. “Through this, we can ensure the timely transport of fresh produce, meats, dairy, and other essential food items to Metro Manila and neighboring areas, which will help lower food prices and achieve food security,” AGRI said. According to the Resolution, such arrangements can be developed into a formal policy to ensure that all necessary measures are in place to regulate the entry of agricultural and food delivery vehicles and avoid potential disruptions to the primary function of the busway, including the proper coordination with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). “DOTr must facilitate consultations with agricultural and food industry stakeholders to further optimize the logistics of food supply chains and address issues related to food distribution within the National Capital Region. Gusto nating maipatupad ito para makatulong, at hindi maging dagdag na abala o pabigat sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan,” AGRI said. “Bukod sa dagdag na suporta sa ating mga magsasaka, mangingisda, at local food producers, kailangan nating maglatag at magpatupad ng mga hakbang para masiguro ang mabilis na biyahe ng produkto patungong merkado, na magpapababa sa presyo ng pagkain,” it added. AGRI Party-list also reiterated its advocacy for cheaper prices of food for the benefit of Filipinos saying, “Napakahalaga na mapagaan ang pasanin ng ating mga kababayan sa pamamagitan ng murang pagkain na maihahain sa kani-kanilang hapag-kainan, kaya lahat ng rason kung bakit nagmamahal ang mga ito ay dapat solusyunan agad.” AGRI Party-list has been consistently pushing for legislative measures that will reduce the prices of food in the market by providing additional support for the agricultural sector and protecting the livelihood of local food producers. AGRI recently filed House Resolution No. 2158 to investigate the sudden and drastic increase in the retail price of tomatoes, and determine the role of price manipulators, hoarders and cartels in the possible “artificial tomato crisis” causing the price hike. “Ang paniwala natin: Sa suporta sa agrikultura, panalo ang masa. Dapat nang mawala sa eksena at panagutin ang mga demonyo at kriminal na kumikitil sa ating ekonomiya, lalo na sa kabuhayan ng mga kababayan nating buong buhay na nagsisikap para sa pamilya at para may makain ang buong bansa,” AGRI stated. “Tungkulin ng gobyernong tiyakin na may sapat na proteksyon sa hanapbuhay ang ating mga magsasaka, mangingisda, at local food producers na itinuturing nating “food security soldiers” para mapataas ang lokal na produksyon, dumami ang supply sa merkado, at mapababa ang presyo ng pagkain at bilihin. Murang pagkain, gawin na natin!” it added. Previous Activities Share the News! Previous Post Latest Posts​ 15 Jan 2025 Murang Pagkain, 'wag hulihin!AGRI PL to DOTr: OPEN EDSA BUSWAY FOR AGRI, FOOD DELIVERY VEHICLES AT NIGHT 06 Jan 2025 Dagdagan, hindi pabayaan!AGRI SEEKS PROBE ON THE CLOSURE OF SMALL-SCALE RICE, CORN MILLS IN 1K BARANGAYS 13 Dec 2024 AGRI Party-list Advocates for Full Protection of Agriculture Budget in 2025 Categories Activities Advocacy Legislation Support Previous Activities 2024

Dagdagan, hindi pabayaan!AGRI SEEKS PROBE ON THE CLOSURE OF SMALL-SCALE RICE, CORN MILLS IN 1K BARANGAYS

2025 News, Uncategorized / By

Dagdagan, hindi pabayaan! AGRI SEEKS PROBE ON THE CLOSURE OF SMALL-SCALE RICE, CORN MILLS IN 1K BARANGAYS AGRI Party-list filed a measure to probe the recent reports that small-scale rice and corn millers in over 1,000 barangays have closed in a span of a decade after they were dominated by big players and influx of cheaper imported grain supplies. Lee filed House Resolution No. 2150 urging Congress to investigate these alarming closures, including assessment of their impact to livelihood and food security. “Nakakabahala ang pagsasara ng mga rice and corn millers sa napakaraming barangay sa bansa na hindi nakasabay sa pagdagsa ng mas murang imported na produkto sa merkado. Marami na naman nating magsasaka ang apektado ang kabuhayan at kita sa mga pagsasarang ito,” AGRI Party-list Representative and Senatorial aspirant Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee said. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), there were 15,436 barangays with rice and corn mills in 2023, which is lower by 6.3 percent from the 16,476 recorded in 2013. “Kailangang suriin agad ang usaping ito dahil kung hindi ito matutugunan, posibleng dumami pa ang magsasarang rice and corn millers sa mga susunod na taon, lalo na kung mananatiling mababa ang taripa at dagsa pa rin ang papasok na imported na produkto sa merkado,” AGRI Party-list stated. “Kung magpapatuloy ito, bababa pa ang kita ng ating mga lokal na magsasaka, mawawalan sila ng gana, at bababa ang produksyon na siya namang magpapalayo sa katuparan ng food security sa bansa,” it added. According to the said resolution, there is a need to scrutinize the effectiveness of current government programs and interventions to support the development of local rice and corn industries and determine short-term and long-term interventions to put an end to the closure of these mills. “With small-scale rice and corn mills closing despite recurring calls to elevate the state of the country’s agriculture sector, the government needs to recalibrate its policies so progress can be felt by our local food producers. Di pwedeng habang bukambibig na dapat maging mura ang pagkain at prayoridad ang agrikultura ay napapabayaan naman ang ating mga magsasaka, mangingisda at local food producers,” AGRI stressed. AGRI Party-list has long been fighting for more support for post-harvest facilities for farmers through its persistent calls to increase the budget for these needed facilities and agricultural equipment during budget deliberations. Further, AGRI renewed its call for the immediate passage of House Bill No. 3958 or the “Post-Harvest Facilities Support Act”, which underscores the need to provide warehouses, rice mills, and crucial equipment such as dryers, threshers and cold storages, to increase production. “Ang pinakamabisang solusyon sa inflation ay pagtulong sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda at local food producers. Kung patuloy silang madedehado sa mga imported na produkto at kawalan ng sapat na suporta mula sa gobyerno, mananatiling suntok sa buwan at pangarap lang ang murang pagkain,” AGRI Party-list said. “Simulan natin ang 2025 sa seryosong pagtutok at pagbibigay prayoridad sa agrikultura at ituloy-tuloy ang nararapat na tulong sa sektor. Malinaw na sa suporta sa mga lokal na magsasaka, mapapataas ang produksyon at mapapababa ang presyo ng pagkain, kung saan panalo ang sambayanang Pilipino,” it added. ### Previous Activities Share the News! Previous Post Latest Posts​ 06 Jan 2025 Dagdagan, hindi pabayaan!AGRI SEEKS PROBE ON THE CLOSURE OF SMALL-SCALE RICE, CORN MILLS IN 1K BARANGAYS 13 Dec 2024 AGRI Party-list Advocates for Full Protection of Agriculture Budget in 2025 10 Dec 2024 AGRI Party-list Urges Unity in Protecting Agriculture Budget for Filipino Farmers Categories Activities Advocacy Legislation Support Previous Activities 2024